My darling dad

EJW

15 November 1939 - 25 December 2007

My darling dad passed away in our arms in hospital late afternoon on Christmas Day, aged 68, after a most brave and courageous battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

He fell the day after my last post and was rushed to hospital as he had stopped breathing and we have been by his bedside all day every day ever since until Christmas Day. The funeral is on Monday.

Mum has lost her life partner, married to him for 44 years. My brother and I have lost one of the best mates we'll ever have.

Proving it wasn't a fluke

I have now completed my SECOND pair of socks for Southern Summer of Socks knitalong. So there you go, my first pair were not a fluke.

These are full of soft smooshyness (that's my made up word) all for me. They are knitted in the most delicious shade of purple Rowan wool. Gorgeous gorgeous.


The feet look abnormally large, but it's just the angle of the photo. My feet really aren't that of a giants, I assure you.

On the digi-scrapping front, I have used Sharon's fabulous blog freebie which is still available but you better be quick. What a gorgeous shade of pink, reminds me of fairy floss (cotton candy for Americans). Don't you think the name fairy floss just is so much more fun though??? And the glittery swirl adds that touch of bling.
Click on the preview to take you to Artistic Musings so you can go download the freebie. And this is what I did with it. The darling little niece of my workmate.

Credits here

Back to work for me tomorrow after 3 glorious weeks off ~~sigh~~ All good things must come to an end right?

Long time no blog

My word it's been almost a week since my last entry. Where did the week go? Oh I know ... shopping, knitting, wrapping, tree setting upping (LOL).

Actually I'm being rather flip, I went to see my parents on Thursday and took my mum shopping for the day. We went to Highpoint, it has doubled in size since I last went, was a fabulous day. She had booked a carer to come in for the day to be with dad, the first time mum had had a whole day off. We got back with 4 minutes to spare! We had had fun, we shopped, we had the most glorious hot chocolates at Max Brenners, a first visit for me. Mum really enjoyed the break knowing dad was in good hands.

Because the heat had really hit dad hard, we had a difficult time that night getting him to bed. My mum deserves a medal, I don't know how she does it. Mum being 4'11" and dad near on 6'. It takes about half an hour from getting dad out of his lift chair to finally pulling the sheets up in bed. He has a lot of trouble walking and it's really slow going. More often than not he freezes where his legs won't do what his brain wants them to do, sometimes he falls. When it didn't look like it was going to work the first time we sat him back down in his chair and mum went out to get something. I held his hand and he looked at me with tears in his eye, a look of defeat. It was heartbreaking. I hate this for him, I really do.

So I guess that's a fair bit why I haven't been in a Christmas mood as yet. Still haven't mailed my parcels, still got some cards to mail. I only just set up the tree this afternoon. I've only had 3 weeks off work! Don't you love how I work best under stress and leave things till the last moment.

Number one son is staying with us at the moment. He has just finished high school, not quite sure which way to jump. It's been fun having him here. Took this photo yesterday of two partners in crime!

Credits here.

Sharon put a fabulous new paper pack with some bonus goodies in the shoppe at twolittlepixels, called Xmas Brights. I had started out thinking I might do some kind of Christmas layout and it ended up into Shed Talk. Shows how versatile these papers are. Trust me, our shed is so far removed from anything Christmassy at all. How absolutely brilliant is the pink in this paper pack, I can't wait to use that too.

22 more sleeps

I really better get my act into gear and start mailing my overseas gifts. Yikes!

Mum and I are going shopping all day on Thursday. I'm so excited. This will be the first time she's been out of the house for the whole day in a long long time. Dad will have a nurse/carer come in to be with him and mum and I are going up to Highpoint to do the remains of the Christmas shopping, lunch, girl stuff, try on clothes, shoe shopping, it will be fabulous. Very very much looking forward to it.

So in the spirit of Christmas approaching, poor Molly was ribboned up, tinselled up, every which way to try to get a festive photograph of her. I really was against the odds. The dogs next door started barking, there were flies, my goodness the flies are already bad this year, I dropped the bribery treats which lead to a free-for-all dive at my feet. But I did manage a couple of shots, so this is what a did. Perhaps a bit busier than usual, but it really went with the momentum of the day, LOL. "Another year. Another Christmas photo to endure" ROFL.

Credits

Paper from Paper Essentials – Ruby/Coconut by [ksharonkdesigns]

Ribbon from Small Packages – Ribbons 1 by [ksharonkdesigns]

Flourish from Springshine Kit [ksharonkdesigns] altered utilizing Atomic Cupcake Pristine Chip action
Frames from Small Packages – Frames 4 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Back frame and small tags – Serenity freebie by [ksharonkdesigns]
Magic Sparkles No 2 by Anna Aspnes
Dollar Buys Frippery – Tracy Ann Digital Art
Fonts – Fontdinerdotcom, Lainie Day and Century Gothic

Think there's a storm brewing

Molly has gone all wide-eyed. Who needs a barometer, LOL. She knows if there's a storm coming easily half hour before it hits. She hates storms, starts the trembles, the eyes get all wide, and she sticks to me like glue. Bo the cat on the other hand goes out and plays in the rain. Go figure.

Not much energy this weekend, I'm still getting over the cabaret we went to on Friday night for South-West Health, a fundraiser for a vital piece of equipment. Isn't right is it? A vital piece of equipment and yet it's not supplied to the hospital and they have to buy it themselves. Seems to be the way of the world. We had such fun, dressing up, going out dancing all night long, terrific band, great company. All the tables had a full sized silver Christmas tree (minus the bottom branches) on them, so that has really got me into the festive spirit now that December has rocked around. Summer has hit with a force, it's been so hot this weekend. Well hot for us!

I have a pic here finally of the terrific sock bag and one of the stitch markers I was fortunate to received through Southern Summer of Socks knitalong. Thank you again girls. You can just see my purple Rowan socks peeking out from the bag. You'll have to wait until they're finished to see them properly, I'm so proud of them. But already I have my next wool at the ready and am browsing around for a not too hard pattern, but a pattern nonetheless.




On the digi scrapping front, I've done a layout for the first page of our family book that I am going to give to mum next year, where it all began. Don't you just love her glasses?!?!?!? Sharon has some terrific ribbons at twolittlepixels right now so go have a look. They really are lush and so so pretty. I've linked supplies from twolittlepixels in the credits below so you can go find them if you want them too. :-)



Credits
Paper from Paper Essentials – Ruby/Coconut by [ksharonkdesigns]
Ribbon (recoloured) from Small Packages – Ribbons 1 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Grungy tags by Vintage Charm
Frame from Small Packages – Frames 5 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Confettified Overlay by Leora Sanford
Font – Jane Austen
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Now, off to cook this corned beef. You either love it or hate it. We love it. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Surprise in the mail !

It's very exciting to get something other than bills in the mail, don't you think? Even more exciting when it's a package. Particularly when I had forgotten it was coming. Because I had knitted my very first socks for Southern Summer of Socks knitalong, the newbies got a prize to keep the enthusiam levels high.

A great drawstring bag, perfect sock size, perfect even more so that I can now leave my socks out with no more fear that the cat will take a liking to purple Rowan half knitted socks!! LOL And fabulous stitch markers from Shazmina Bendi Designs. Thank you all. Considering to date when I had needed stitch markers I just made a knotted circle from another colour wool and used that, these markers will come in very handy and most appreciated.

You will have to only imagine them tonight as the batteries from the camera are charging right now. Pictures forthcoming.

One of the CT members got me talking about motor bikes, in particular my brother and his beloved bike, so thought I'd scrap a page, which can go in the album I am now making for my mum for next year. (So many albums on the go!!!!!) Here tis for your viewing pleasure. Trev, hope you like it. (It was nearly called TREV HEAD! hahahahahahahaha)




Credits
Paper from Not So Blue by [ksharonkdesigns]
Negative Strip – Tones of Autumn kit by Vintage Charm
Ribbon – ‘For Sharon’ minikit by Vintage Charm
Arrows – Grubby Boys paper pack by Vintage Charm
Fonts – AnthologY and Arriere Garde

I love Lavender

I really do. I love the scent, I love the feeling of wellness it evokes, and of course I do love purple.

I am certainly no gardener but I am thrilled with the driveway of lavender I have going right now, which I planted last year. Lets face it, it takes a lot to do harm to lavender right? Even my non-green thumb isn't going to kill that off. I have a dirty big agapantha right in the middle though which I need muscles to help take out for me. It must go!

So this is a pic of some of the lavender in my driveway, again created with Sharon and Megan goodness from twolittlepixels ...


Credits
Paper Essentials Lavender/Lime by [ksharonkdesigns]
Frames from Small Packages Frames 4 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Alpha from Tones of Autumn Kit by Vintage Charm
Bow (recoloured) from Crumples Spice by Tracy Ann
Font – Pea Katie

My very first pair of socks - finished !

Voila, they are done. How absolutely funny the way the yarn has completely gone different in each sock, I swear I didn't do anything different. I just started from where I left off. No matter though. I love the uniqueness.

They don't fit my hoofers, so I can't model them, so a picture of them playing in the hydrangeas and then sunbaking on the back lawn will have to do. They will be added to mum's presents for Christmas, she'll adore them I'm sure.

frame by [ksharonkdesigns]

Shortcut to Sunday roast

Mike has been off camping since Thursday evening and back this arvo some time ... he found a little nugget, woo hoo! I keep telling him to find a piece of gold the size of his head so I can retire but he just hasn't walked over it yet! LOL

So I'm being a bit lazy for our roast dinner tonight, we don't have one EVERY Sunday, just every couple of Sundays I'll do a roast. I bought a pre-cooked turkey breast. Is that just sheer blasphemy for my American friends? After all the time and effort they've just spent in creating amazing turkey dinners for Thanksgiving? Oh well. This is easy, just open, carve, warm up, add roast vegies, cover with gravy and done! LOL

Now my mum. She's a funny thing. She comes out with a stack of wierd and wonderful and whacky sayings and I'm finding I come out with them too!! So I thought as a work in progress, as obviously I will need to keep adding to this, I'd document some of her all time favourites. And I'm not going to show her this, no chance of her seeing on here as she wouldn't even know how to turn on a computer, but I might make a family book up for her for next year, so this can be a surprise.

But not from you!! Here tis.

One might ask why you would love a duck, and who is the giddy aunt she's talking about? Who knows.

Credits

Plain Grunge paper pack by Vintage Charm
Tea Stained Alpha by Vintage Charm
Journalling paper from Date Me Stamps by Vintage Charm
Ink Spots from Love Notes (former freebie) by Vintage Charm
Tie from Grubby Boys paper pack by Vintage Charm
Staple from Small Packages Stationery Plus 2 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Stitching by [ksharonkdesigns]
Photowraps No.1 by Katie Pertiet
Punch Alpha by Leah Riordan
Font – Antique type

[[ Vintage Charm products available at twolittlepixels ]]

A plethora of layouts!

That's a big word for a Saturday isn't it? ha. Well only one layout for you today. Secretly behind the scenes the pixel chicks (!!) have been doing all number of layouts in readiness for the opening of twolittlepixels. Now they can be released on the unsuspecting public, LOL (probably all one of you that read this!!) So I shall bring you one each day.

Isn't this the most delicious shade of green, like the sweetest of green cordial. You want it? Hmmmm, it just might be in a certain grab bag that I know!! ~~~ whistles innocently ~~~

Funniest thing about this pic, I aimed the camera at Molly, she rolled over, looked up and smiled and held the pose for easily 10 seconds so I could get the shot, then sat back up again. You think she might be ready for 'Australia's next top model' ???? hahaha




Credits
Paper Essentials Lavender/Lime by [ksharonkdesigns]
Arrows from Grubby Boys Paper Pack by Vintage Charm
Grid from Natural former blog freebie by [ksharonkdesigns]
Staples from Small Packages-Stationery Plus 1 by [ksharonkdesigns]
All available at twolittlepixels.
Fonts – You are Loved and Century Gothic
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Oh and here tis, are you ready for it, it's official ... I feel like I need a theme song or something. Here's my blinkie ...

Okay, must away, the day is getting away from me, I have sewing to do.

Introducing twolittlepixels

Well I've been bursting with this secret, but my lips have been sealed until tonight. Huge congratulations to Sharon [ksharonkdesigns] and Megan [of Vintage Charm fame] on the opening of their new store twolittlepixels. What a dynamic duo the two of them are, and their designs just go so well together.

There's two terrific opening freebies, so go join up and grab them, start creating and then post your gorgeous layouts to the gallery. I can't wait to see your pages.

And exciting for me is that I am now on this fabulous creative team full time, no more guesting!! Woo hoo. I'm a pixel chick !!!! How lucky I am, I could just pinch myself. Being able to use these fabulous designs by Sharon and Megan and being able to gab behind the scenes with a wonderful team who inspire me every day. Go check out the gallery and see what I mean.

And in honour of this grand occasion I took a sidestep from my "Things that Never Really Happened", LOL.

Credits
Papers from Grandma’s Closet paper pack by Vintage Charm
Grungy tags by Vintage Charm
Frames from Small Packages Frames 4 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Flowers from Meander Kit by [ksharonkdesigns]
String bow from All Natural Kit by [ksharonkdesigns]
Staples from Small Packages-Stationery Plus 1 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Swish Swirls from Tracy Ann Designs
Stitching by Tracy Blankenship
Font – Another Typewriter
Photograph – Square America

Can you keep a secret?

Well I'll show you what I've been working on today. My sewing didn't get far the other night, but today was the day. Half finished. I can't quite show you what I'm making because it's for a gift and I'm not sure if she does read along, but she does have the address to my blog so just in case I'll only show you the mess I made! LOL

Frame by [ksharonkdesigns]

As for sock news, I have now made 2 single socks. Bells gave me the advice to not follow on straight away with the partner to the first sock I made because I just didn't think I could face knitting it all over again. So I made a completely new sock. Now I'm back to doing the partner for the first sock again. Confused?

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Thank goodness I remembered where I put the pattern. My main worry was that I wouldn't end up making the partner because of my commitment phobia to actually finishing things (I like starting things, dreaming of starting things, making the first stitches or cuts or placements, but I have a slight problem with finishing things). But I needed not worry as I'm almost up to the heel and I only cast on Sunday morning.

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Cross fingers, pictures coming soon.

Hot

Where did this heat come from? It's hit quickly and I'm flagging. I know by world standards, heck, even Aussie standards, it's not hot here, but it's hot enough for me. Mike is having a granny nap on the couch, te he. I should say grandpa nap shouldn't I? I was about to start sewing but thought I'd blog instead.

I just went over to the next town to visit my local quilting shop for some calico, which I was seriously depleted in. She looked up in surprise when she saw me, probably thinking I'd dropped off the end of the earth or moved to another planet without saying goodbye! I just have not sewed all year. Why? Digi Scrapping! hahahaha

I do want to get two quick projects done before Christmas so will work on that today now that I have the needed calico. The ironing board is up, material is out, so what I am doing here? I need to show you this, that's what.

Sharon has her new blog freebie out for a limited time, called Serenity. It really is lovely so rush on over to Artistic Musings to pick it up, or click on the pic and it will take you to Sharon's blog. Hurry, or you'll miss out. Here's a pic of the freebie, too too pretty, and then what I did with it (love the little vintage scrap tag journalling thingys - that's the technical term of course, LOL). Enjoy.

Credits
Serenity freebie by [ksharonkdesigns] on her blog Artistic Musings
Frame from Small Packages Frames 4 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Magic Sparkles No.2 by Anna Apsnes
Fonts – Cac Shishoni and Antique Type
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Now off I go, sewing machine awaits! That will rouse someone from his nap, LOL.

Bliss !

Definition of bliss for me right now is waking up knowing I don't have to go back to work for three whole weeks!!!!!! Some people can't work me out, having rec leave in November. But I did it last year and loved it so much. I got *EVERYTHING* done for Christmas, shopping finished, presents wrapped, crafty things completed, cards written, menu planned. It was wonderful being able to head into December without a care in the world. I could really set about and enjoy the Christmas season. I aim to do the same this year.

I need to look back on my blog and see where I got up to with my 'Things' series to show you. I think I'm up to this one. Please let me know if you've seen it before here. You may have seen it in the gallery but not here as yet. If you've seen it before, then here's an encore performance, LOL.

Credits

Katie Pertiet - Vintage Picnic paper
Katie Pertiet - Stacked vintage frames
Katie Pertiet - Ledger Frames No2
Katie Pertiet - Hung up Tags
Pillowgirl's Essential bows/ribbons
Photo - Square America
Font - GF Halda

Sunday morning

Shhhh, he's still sleeping, snoring like a buzz saw! Decided to get up, have a cup of tea and do some ironing. Jeepers what is with that, before 9am even, ironing?!?!?!?!?! Sunday is meant to be a day of rest right? Although I do plan a trip to a nearby quilting shop later on today for a purchase of some Christmas material, so there is some fun in the offering today.

Hanging out one more week ... and then I'm off work for 3. Only 5 more working days. Can I hold on?

Sharing a layout I did recently, we usually head down to the 12 Apostles each year for the big breakfast. I really am so lucky being able to get in a car and head down here after a lovely drive any time I want.



Credits
Check it Out paper by Lynn Grieveson
Postage Stamp Frames No.3 by Katie Pertiet
Curled Paper edges by Anna Aspnes
Font – Neville Script
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Enjoy Sunday!!

The man!

Quick fly by posting! LOL

Lucky he doesn't mind getting his mug on this blog right? I'm rather pleased with this, I think sometimes simple is best when doing a page, although you'd laugh at what else I had on here before I decided to take it all off. te he

Pic of the man last weekend before we went to the festival. He was under the verandah here at home and for the life of me I couldn't work out the small streaks in the back of the photo (top right corner of the pic) until I realized I had caught the rain in mid drop.

Credits

Paper from Splatters 3 by Tracy Ann Digital Art
Splotch from Tracy Ann Something Special (Something Fab)
Font – Lainie Day

Okay well all that is left to be said is "hi ho hi ho, it's off to work I go". See you on the flip side.

Building an ark !

Yes, we're almost at that stage, what a weekend! It hasn't stopped raining since Friday night. Unbelievable but good. Big soaking rains. I swear our hydrangeas have doubled overnight. There are buds on them everywhere, they will look exquisite once they flower.

But mad as hatters we still went to the Dunkeld Arts Festival, rain as it did. We got to see a painting exhibition along with a photographic exhibition which has me all wired up to start driving around the area to take more landscape photographs. We bought some very nice honey coated cashews from a vendor and wished we bought more, they are delicious!!!! And then ended up in the pub drinking hot chocolates and coffee. We took a dear friend from town as well, and it was quite a treat to just be able to sit in the car on the way up and back and just talk and catch up, so that was good in itself.

Oh and a farmer shore a sheep (is that the right terminology?) right in front of me. Okay so a lot of people might get to see that on a daily basis out here, but I don't, not up that close. What an exquisite feeling the sheeps belly was after being shorn, almost like warm chenille. It was the strangest colour sheep too, browns *AND* white, I don't think I've ever seen a multi-coloured sheep before but they were there.

I did get to meet a few sheep yesterday, and want to show you this particular one, we have some way out sheep in the country!! LOL Don't you just love the hair do!!

[frame/staples by ksharonkdesigns]

Ahhhh, weekend at last

I shouldn't really say "at last" I guess, because this week has gone super fast. Only 2 more weeks and I have a small break from work, counting down the days!

I must share my latest offering using a fabulous new kit out in pickleberrypop tonight called "All Natural". I have to say that Sharon has done it again. This is a super kit full of colours that will just compliment so many, if not all, of everything she has done to date. I just love it, the papers are so rich and textured.

I must tell you the story of this layout. My darling father-in-law drove 2 hours to get to our place one weekend and took our sorry outdoor chair apart, took all the bits and pieces back home, lovingly sanded it all back, re-stained it, repainted the wrought iron, drove 2 hours back to our place the next weekend and reassembled it which was a mammoth effort as he hadn't numbered which plank went in which position. Finally it was all back together again. A labour of love for us truly, we appreciated it so much.

But this is the view that greets us most sunny mornings, afternoons, early evenings, any time really. It's Molly's favourite spot to park herself and just watch the world go by. Looks mighty uncomfortable doesn't it? But she loves it.

But shhhhhh, it's our secret right? My father-in-law has absolutely no idea!! Please don't tell, LOL.

And this is Sharon's All Natural kit I used to create the page.

I also popped in a crown by Fantacy, the Scrappin' Hillbilly Sweetpea to crown the Princess Molly!!

Tomorrow we are heading up to Dunkeld to the Dunkeld Mosaic Festival. It should be fun if the weather holds, it's meant to be rain. I can't complain though, the farmers need it. It will be a nice drive there anyway and lets hope some fun pictures to show when we return.

Nighty night all.

55 days to go !!!

Can you even get your head around that? Woah. That's insane. I know we say it every year, but where has the year gone? I still have 2 major birthdays to go before the end of the year too, dads and Mike's. It's hard with birthdays at the end of the year, because you use all your good ideas for Christmas but then have to think of another present as well.

I'm loving trawling through the galleries and seeing the odd Christmas layout popping up here and there, so it's not just me getting ready for the silly season. I'm going to have such fun scrapping over this time too, I wasn't doing digi scrapping last Christmas, so I can't wait to see what goodies pop up in the store.

Speaking about stores, Sharon has a fabulous package of frames for sale at pickleberrypop. A wee bit of grunge which is my particular favourite style, she's also done a clean version too. Click here to check them out if you will - grungy and clean. I think you'll agree she's done every type of size you'd imagine you would need.

Here's a layout I did with the grungy ones. I must tell you the story behind this as well. In our little town there's a group which Mike is part of who do the "Christmas Lolly Run". It's well advertised for Christmas Eve and the lads get about town on the back of a ute filled with hay bales with Christmas music blazing. All the kids (big kids too, LOL) run out to their front yards when they hear the music coming up the street and the lads throw lollies into the yards for the kids. It's all such fun and to be honest I don't know who has more fun, the kids or Mike and the lads.

Every year Mike wants a different costume. He thinks what he wants, and I deliver. The reindeer costume last year was a hoot. I just got the material, laid down his jeans and t-shirt as a template and cut around it leaving quite a bit of leeway, added the white fur chest and made a head piece with ears as such. I do have quite a funny pic of him, which I may just share one of these days of the reindeer as roadkill on the front of the ute! (boys will be boys huh?)

So without further ado, here's the costumes from the last three years. Pssst, I'm trying to talk him into being a Christmas angel this year, but I don't think I'm going to have much luck, hahahahaha.

Credits

Frames from Small Packages Frames 4 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Date tags from Faraway by [ksharonkdesigns]
Paper (red dotted) from Seasonal Sampler by Shabby Princess
Paper (white) from Mono Pack Essential II by Gina Cabrera
Zig Zag stitched frames from Anna Aspnes
Bow (recoloured) from Crumples Spice by Tracy Ann
Splotch from Tracy Ann Something Special (Something Fab)
Alpha from Harvest Spice by Shabby Princess Designs
Font – Another typewriter

Excitement Plus !

I've noticed a trend, my titles seem to always have exclamation marks! Do I live my life like that? Possibly I do. te he.

Yesterday, what an exciting day and comedy of errors all rolled into one.

I got an email from the TAD Girls to tell me a layout I had posted in one of the galleries had been picked as "Layout of the Week". Woah! That has NEVER EVER happened to me before. I was hopping around doing the happy dance like a mad woman. Ran out to Mike who was in the process of ripping down part of the side fence and was re-building it. Making no sense at all telling him to "come come come, look look look". Just as he hit his thumb with the hammer, I got the rolled eyes expression and "not now dear".

Here's the layout - Sunrise in the Country. Check out Tracy Ann's TAD Girls blog - entry on October 26th. The picture was taken last Easter Sunday morning at the dawn service by moi!





Credits
Simple Sets #25 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Staples from Small packages Stationery Plus 1 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Papers/elements from Tracy Ann Something Special (Something Sparkly and Something Fab)


So after all that excitement I was going out to a girlfriend's place that afternoon. Mike had moved the rubbish bins, hadn't he, because of working on the fence, and was taking a break. I backed straight into the rubbish bin that had his wood planer doo-dad sitting on top of it. It fell down onto paving and broke the handle.
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Woops. Car was okay! Have I mentioned I'm quite accident prone?
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So on my way to my friend's place and there was a 4x4 and trailer in front of me on the road with two cows in it. One cow decided to do a wee. My God! It comes out like a tap! Bouncing off the road and straight onto my car! I had been wee'd on my a cow. Well my beloved car had, anyway. Can surely say that is a first.
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So quite the eventful day yesterday.
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Got up early today, had brecky and knitted whilst watching another episode of The House of Elliott, thank you again Tanya! Whilst doing so I looked at the sad basket of ironing sitting in the corner, the carpets that need a vaccuum, the oven needs a clean. So all that to look forward to this afternoon. Urrrgh.
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Later.

Time Flies!

It sure does, doesn't it. Nearly a week has gone by since I last posted ... oooh that means we're almost a week closer to Christmas, te he. While people in the US are gearing up for Halloween and Thanksgiving, for me it's full steam ahead for Christmas.

My mum, bless her cotton socks, has completely finished her Christmas shopping. Yes, please groan if you will. She's like this every year. I am about half finished. Must be a thing with our family huh? This whole "be prepared" attitude. I love Christmas shopping, I love thinking about the recipients of my gifts and working out the perfect and exact thing for them, I colour co-ordinate my wrapping so it looks perfect under the tree and make my own tags. This year will be no exception.

I start my Christmas shopping at the Boxing Day sales (the only pain with this, is I've got to find somewhere to store/hide the pressies for the year and not forget where I've put them, LOL). Now this is where I really get high tech. I have a spreadsheet with everyone on it, what I've bought them, how much it cost (so I can keep an eye on how much I spend overall, have that mini heart attack at the end, right, eeek). I even have a tick box for the presents as I've wrapped and tagged them, so I know how far along I am. Plus I've saved these spreadsheets for say the last 5 years so I can look back to see what I gave that person in other years so I don't double up. It's a sickness right? There's a self-help group I should be enrolled in? LOL.

So Sharon has gone and fed my obsession for Christmas this week with her Simple Set #24 and Joy Freebie (visit Sharon's blog to go grab the Joy Freebie - be quick though, it's only for a limited time). Because I took one look and thought PERFECT for a Christmas layout!

And this is what I did with a combo of both!

Credits

By [ksharonkdesigns] …
Simple Sets #24 available from pickleberrypop
Paper from Meander Kit
Sequin Overlay from Joy Freebie available from Sharon’s blog Artistic Musings.
Ribbon from Scrumptious
Notepaper and staples from Stationery Plus

Glitter Swirls from Harvest Spice by ShabbyPrincess Designs

Fonts – Cac Shishoni and Another Typewriter

My Shutterfly Book

Oh my! I LOVE IT. Love love love it.

I can so highly recommend Shutterfly to anyone. This book has come out terrifically. If they've done any cropping I can't tell, everything is fully bled right to the ends of the pages. I love how the cover has turned out. The colours of the layouts on the pages are so true to what I had created them with. And the quality of the pages are just superb. And the thing that knocks me out the most - I had it in my hands (all the way from US to Australia) only two weeks and one day after I hit the send button to them. What service.

Have I said ... I love it!! LOL

Here's some pics. Don't mind the gentle way I'm holding the book, I don't want to press it out flat being that it's for my mum for Christmas. I kind of want it to still be untouched as such for when she gets it.

My sock !!!!

Ready … wait for it … drum roll please if you will.

Ta da ……… my first sock for Southern Summer of Socks knitalong.

Can you even believe how it looks? Bells!!!! Are you looking at this? This is all your doing. I love it. Love love love it. It doesn’t fit me, but I still love it. I do believe this will be going to my mum as part of her Christmas present, and she will love them just as much, and yes … my mum will definitely wear these colours, LOL.

I have toiled over this sock, cursed, got hard bits on my finger from the needles, and Bells has been with me every step of the way. I ended up using a combination of email instructions from Bells and a great page - Techniques from Theresa from Knitting for the grafting, the pictures helped immensely.

So now, how to muster up the strength to go and do it all again? Well I’ve taken some advice to now knit a completely different sock with different challenges, and then go back and do the second mate to this one after that.

Now onto digi scrapping. Sharon has done it again with a fabulous new alpha which I’ve fallen in love with. It looks like it’s been cut out of brown paper and it is terrific. Available as always from pickleberrypop.

And here’s what I did with it, using the alpha and lots of other fun things.



Credits
From [ksharonkdesigns]
Paper, clip and staples – Small packages Stationery Plus 1
Alpha – Small packages Alpha 2
Frame – Small packages Frames 3
Star and button – Boystuff
Inked Stamp – Taking Notes
Stitches – Simple Joys Mini Kit

Ruler from Collaborative Miles Kit (Tiff Brady)
Font - PeaKatie
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I’ve been quite wrecked today, sapped in strength. We were guests at a terrific wedding yesterday, a dear friend. Such a happy occasion. I’ve had quite a lazy day today, knitting and watching episodes of The House of Elliot. Wow, what a terrific series, I’ve watched the first two episodes, lent to me by my dear friend Tanya.

Tuesday night

Taking a break from knitting, I do believe I'm starting to get a callous on my hand (aghast!!!). Lets blame Bells huh? It's all her fault, getting me gung ho into knitting again. Only kidding Bells, I'm loving it. My first grown up sock (albeit a small grown up sock the way it's turning out) I've rounded the heel and now going down the foot. I'm REALLY REALLY doing it!! dpns and all. Yay me.
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Mike is in the bathroom soaking his bagpipes in the bath or something, I'm staying well away with all the cursing that's going on in there. We are going to a wedding on Saturday of one of his very best mates and Mike is piping. He's been practising tonight and well shhhh this can be our secret right, but he sounded like **** (bleep). I know he's started having the sore throat and all lately but he's just found out he has a leak in the bag of the pipe so for every breath going in one was rapidly leaking out. So it wasn't him after all. He's soaking the bag to try and find the air leak.
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Sharon has a lot of goodness going into the shoppe at the moment, a really pretty quick page (can I say, I LOVE SEQUINS!!) and some really versatile vintage frames (loving the vintage too). Go forth and buy buy buy!

Available from pickleberrypop and this is what I did with it ...



And the really neat vintage frames again from pickleberrypop.

And this is what I did with the frames and other Sharon stuff. Another 'Things that Never Really Happened' (giggle). I'm laughing with you Sharon, not at you!! Truly.

Look who I met tonight!!

Denise Drysdale came to town and put on a show for us. What a wonderful night, probably about 120 women who just wanted to have a great night out, and entertain us she did. As did the boys from the local football club who dressed up in little black and white mini dresses with their bluntstone boots!! and wigs that I'm sure most were on back to front. They were our "waitresses" for the evening serving up a lovely 3 course meal. Who says we don't live the high life in the country!!

For those international readers who may not know who Denise Drysdale is, or Ding Dong as she's affectionately know, she's an entertainer who has been on Australian TV for many many years. Funny as all get out, perfectly suited for a one-woman show.

And I even won one of the raffle prizes, woo hoo! A big prize pack from a bakery in a nearby town. Very nice!

Now for a bit of news that I know will make Bells proud, as I texted her whilst doing so! I have had my first bout of ... wait for it ... PUBLIC KNITTING! I had to take two 3 hour train trips on Thursday and pulled out my knitting. Well it's a long boring trip otherwise, right? And no one batted an eyelid.

Now before you think I was knitting socks ... don't be daft!!! I'm not going to add the stress of dpns whilst on a train bumping along the tracks, that's too much to ask for. Just knitting a scarf, which I always tend to have one on the go for times of just needing something to do with my hands and not wanting to concentrate.

Off to Geelong tomorrow. A bit of wool shopping, shoe shopping and family visiting combined.

Show and tell

I say with a little giggle. Didn't you just love Show & Tell at school? I adored it.

Anyway I'm so darn proud of myself. I must admit I've had a few frantic emails to Bells because these socks look too small, but she assures me they will stretch. I do envision these going to my young niece if they don't stretch. Should we call it yet another practice sock. And isn't it the most fabulous colours. The yarn is from Opal. And it's really really working. I hope to soon have one finished so I can pop it on Southern Summer of Socks. What a great site that Bells and RoseRed have started for the sock knitters, and what a lovely outpouring of comments and advice and just general cheering from the sidelines when people are showing their fabulous sock creations. I'm enjoying it immensely.

I have listened intently to all advice and although I still ended up a little gappy in the join, I used the tail and the active wool and knitted together for 3 stitches. It seems to have worked. And I've only had one instance of the stitch falling off the end of the dpn which after a small and intense panic (arrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!) I was able to pick up again. Oh the stress of it all, LOL.
Shows what a good movie will do, I actually sat for 2 hours solid and knitted. te he, Mike thought it was the pleasure of his company, if only he knew it was wanting to do more rounds of the sock!! Plus even before I left for work this morning. Oh what has become of me.

Now amongst all this, I will show you my other stitchery. You know the pretty charms that you put over the new bride's hand at the wedding after the ceremony. I guess American's do that too? I really loved all my beautiful charms and I have them all in my memory box and lovingly look at them from time to time.

Well I've made a few personalised ones for weddings I've been too, and my dearest friend from work, is going to a family wedding on the weekend and I offered to make her one too. I have the names on the front and the date of the wedding on the back. Too easy. But very memorable.

Frames from [ksharonkdesigns]

Ready for it ... my first sock !!

Okay so it's a wee little training sock, but it's a sock, and it's worked with dpns, and I did a heel and everything. So alright the ribbing at the top is a bit wonky. The patterns tell you to "join", but when you don't know how, it's a bit daunting. I kind of joined it my own way, don't look too close.

But what you can look close at is where the needles went from one to the other. Other times when I've tried I've had big gapey lines at the joins, and I can't see that in this one. I really truly did it. Bells, I know you are reading this and your heart is swelling with pride, roflol.

Bells kindly put me onto the Knitty Training Sock Pattern, and it's been very very helpful. There may not have been a lot of style in the way I held the needles, but here is the finished product ..

So, am I ready to try a real live sock? (as in an adult one). Hmmm, just might make the partner to this one first for a bit more of a practice. But do I dare even show this on Southern Summer of Socks?

Must mention, I had a lesson in international relations when reading a comment recently from Victoria, when I mentioned about making chocolate cake. Young Eve thought I should skip the cake and just eat the frosting to make me feel better. So hmmmm, cake icing really does make the world go round. Interesting! I like your style Eve.

Another weekend over

Another weekend over, where did it go? I have one more day off work, a legitimate day which I was taking off after the non-Canberra weekend so I may as well take it still. Coughing still but not quite as much, but still just as worn out.

Watched Australian Idol tonight, can I say ***I AM SO SICK OF MARK HOLDEN INFLUENCING THE VOTING*** There, I said it. He is so transparent that he has favourites, he does not judge the singers on a level playing field. It is making me sick. Dicko is driving me nuts too, I think if Mark says black, Dicko will just say white to be opposite. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think Kyle is the best judge this year. At least what he says makes sense and it's constructive. I would love to have a night where the judges just zipped their lips and let the public decide on what the public decides.

Having said all that .... "GO CARL" Swing is back .. yeah!

Now have you been over to visit Sharon at Artistic Musings and picked up her Mini Meander freebie. I swear she has made these colours specifically for my Bo Bo Girl and I had such fun using the mini kit. Is the colouring perfect or what? And I am loving playing with the sequins. Do you love how I just randomly threw these across the layout. hahhaahahahahaha (I laugh deliriously). If only it was that easy. I had each sequin marked with their colour, and then copied, copied, copied, copied. Then well, when there was the odd one or two sequins I wanted to move, it took forever to work out exactly "which" green one I was trying to click on. I'm sure there's an easier way in Photoshop, who knows. Being self-taught, I'm probably doing things the long way round.

Anyway this is what I created. Took this photo yesterday of Bo basking in the sun.





Onto another thing, I can tick off my Christmas list - I did it. I ordered my first Shutterfly book. I finally finished by 'Things that Never Really Happened' and it became a 33 page book which I'm giving to my mum for Christmas. I am hoping I got all the edges right and nothing gets overly cropped. I remembered to turn off VividPics as I've read you must do that so the colour remains the same. I am pretty sure I've dotted all my i's and crossed my t's. Fingers crossed.
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I had gone to and fro as to what company I was going to use to print this book, and ended up deciding on Shutterfly, firstly because I could design the front cover myself which I liked. I've been lusting after Victoria's books for so long so have looked to her as inspiration. Thank you also Victoria for answering my email pleas for help and advice. But secondly my main decision was how strong the Australian $ is now against the US $ so even adding international postage, it's come out very favourably against competitors.
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Stay tuned, hopefully I should have it by the end of October.

Does chocolate cake really mend all woes?

I wonder. I'm going to try out the theory. Actually had my first night of full sleep in the bed last night. I did wake up coughing during the night, but I didn't feel the need to get out of bed. So there's a step in the right direction. Still on the antibiotics and still feeling fuzzy headed. Oh and I did forget to tell, amongst it all I have an ache in my jaw at the back from where half a filling fell out through all my coughing. Yes, you read right!!! I can't even contemplate a visit to the dentist at the moment so am using nurofen to mask that pain, but now even hot or cold is really hurting.

So Mike has gone off to play some 'old man' bowls this arvo! ha. That's what I call it. Lawn Bowls. It's actually a lot of fun and a lot harder than it looks. He plays to the death, I play for fun on social nights and make everyone do a happy dance when you bowl nearest the kitty. We really should never be on the same team!

So back to me, cause it's all about me at the moment. I'm still desperately upset about not going to Canberra this weekend, so I decided chocolate cake may just help. I'll let you know. It's baking now.

Anyway, it's not just all about me of course. It's about Sharon too. Sharon's amazing new digi scrapping kit called 'Meander'. It's just terrific, lots of fun to be had with these colours, oh and the sequins are just magic. It's available from pickleberrypop as always. Isn't it just beautiful?

As well as putting together my 'Things that Never Really Happened' book .... nearly finished!! I'm also putting together layouts for a book for my mother-in-law for next Mother's Day. Shhhhh, it's a secret, you won't tell will you? LOL I want to put a pic of all her grandchildren in it, plus a spattering of the rest of us too. My MIL is quite crafty herself, so I do think she will enjoy it to the max. Here's a couple of layouts I have put together of my most beautiful niece and nephew using Sharon's fabulous Meander Kit. Enjoy.

Sick of being sick

I'm so over myself it's not funny. After a visit to the doctor's on Monday it was found that I had acute bronchitis. Hmmm, at least I have a cute something! And it's been so painful. I'm tired from not sleeping through the night without waking up with coughing fits, my throat hurts, my head hurts, the antibiotics are making me sleepy and well quite frankly I've had enough. I only made it to work one day this week, and well today was a day off anyway because I was to be making a joyful trek to Canberra for a fabulous girls weekend, and even that has had to be cancelled from my part. I'm heartbroken.

As for other things, I'm taking part in a knit-a-long at Southern Summer of Socks. It's been set up by Bells and Rose Red and there's a whole bevy of knitters of varying degrees of expertise knitting socks, socks and more socks. They've asked for our goals - my goal is simple. To knit one pair, ONE MEASLY PAIR of socks on dpns. I have never been able to master dpns, I end up in a horrible mess. I've tried and failed, I've tried and given up, I've tried and thrown the darn thing across the room in disgust. I aim this summer to try and master them. One pair, it's all I'm aiming for. Wish me luck.

Of course being the procrastinator that I am and the fact I've been housebound and we do not have a knitting shop in town, means I haven't even started. But next week my challenge will start. Can you even imagine by the end of summer if I am the only person in the knit-a-long who has nothing to show for their efforts. Oh the shame and humiliation.

On the bright side though, I do get to put a cool button on my blog!

Cats for Premiers 2007

We did it (I say we 'collectively' mind you as I did a lot of work barracking from my couch here!). My beloved Cats won the AFL Premiership today after a 44 year drought. The boys did so brilliantly against Port Power and won by a zillion points.

I was so drugged up with tablets with this sore throat and hacking cough I've been developing, my head was already fuzzy, but I made it through the match and only fell asleep during half time. At the final siren I was a sobbing mess. Now I'll probably put that down to the fact I'm feeling quite ill at the moment and you just have to look at me sideways to set me off into tears right now, but what a glorious moment.

So fuzzy head and all (my God, this screen is so bright on my eyes right now!!) I had to scrap a page. I've shamefully recoloured Sharon's papers but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, right? And now I do believe my couch is calling me, I have the fire going, my big crochet rug to curl up under and big plumpy pillows. Mike is off camping this weekend with number 1 son, so the evening is my own.

Credits

Paper – Bubbaboy former freebie from [ksharonkdesigns] completely recoloured
Staples from Small Packages – Stationery Plus 1 from [ksharonkdesigns]
Vintage Flash card by Katie Pertiet (words altered)
Torn frame overlay by Anna Aspnes
Font – Antique Type