A macbre discovery at a cafe

 

For Grandad (please excuse the weeds)

 

 

 

 

A moan and a challenge

I've been sick of late: first I was sick of being a SAHM, then I was (very quickly) sick of being back at work, and now I have a stupid cold that won't go away and it's making me miserable.

Most days end with feeling like I haven't done a single productive or really enjoyable thing. I constantly feel like I'm just getting by.

So, I've given myself a challenge. January is going to be a month of making. I'm calling it I feel Sew/Sow. I'm going to spend the month sewing and sowing (and/or tending the garden). It's time to get a creative spark back into my life.

I don't really have a plan but I do have a couple of things that have been on my to-do list for a while - a cute plaid vest for Remy Monster, a hoodie for Jules, and some dresses for me.

I'm also toying with the idea of joining the people who are going to handmake or thrift their clothes this year - no buying new from shops unless it's underwear or shoes (thank god). Maybe that'll actually be easier than it looks - we're as poor as little church mice right now, and necessity is the mother of invention...

Now I've been a Moaning Myrtle for an entire post, I feel obliged to end on a positive note. Crap. There's nothing coming to me. I'll have to get back to you on that.

Handmade Christmas

These last few months have flown by, what with going back to work and all, so I'm doing a last minute rush to get ready for Christmas. But, really, every Christmas I'm scrambling to get ready. Now of course I wonder what the hell was I doing with my time before Remy arrived...

This year I got all inspired by the Christmas Ornament swap organised by the lovely Louise over at twenty cent mixture.

I got the most beautiful angel made from a woollen blanket (I think...) from Scrappers. Here it is:


I love it! And I wanted to share some of the love so I copied the shape but added my own little touches:




I've left the edges raw and used a simple running stitch around the heart and the edges. I've added a little stuffing under the heart too - more is more after all.

These are going to some very good homes. Yay for a handmade Christmas.

Favourite Christmas message ever

 

fush'n'chups on the beach

Paris does Christmas

 

A few years ago, I went to Paris just after Christmas. I thought I'd fall in love with Paris - I mean, what sort of fashion junkie doesn't? But it was worse than that. I hated it. Didn't like the smell, didn't like the weather, didn't like the people... but Paris does do Christmas well. Particularly Christmas windows. So maybe it wasn't all that bad.

 

Yusss!

I got all 6 ornaments for the swap in the post today - wohoo!

For a moment there, I thought I might have to email everyone in my group and tell them how hopeless my life is right now and how stupid I was to agree to the swap, but NO! I did it!

Photos to follow - I can't upload them until Monday. We've run out of broadband allowance because someone* watched far too many episodes of The Office and Dexter over here.

Other news in this 'disasters that happened this week' section of my blog, the MySky remote broke. Nooooooo!

But in good news, we're off to the Strawberry Fare tomorrow.

*yeah, yeah, that someone was me but I'm still cranky about it. Is there no way I can make it someone else's fault?

The interweb: there's truly something here for everyone.

Thanks In Case You Didn't Know

Oh Christmas Tree

I'm taking part in this Christmas ornament swap. Because going back to work* after 18 months at home with a kid who still wakes in the night was not enough to fill in my days.

I've started which, frankly, IS A FREAKING MIRACLE, but that's about all. I made one piece (only 29 more pieces to go... did I mention that I designed the most time consuming ornament EVER?) and had to open a bottle of wine**.

Blimey. I'm such an eeyore somedays. So, for those of you who are still reading after my grizzling, here's the silver lining - I can expect some precious, handmade ornaments for my Christmas tree this year. Yay to that.

*Yes, I have a new, full-time job. I've been meaning to write about it but, for one reason or another, I haven't. It's also one of those jobs where it's best not to talk to the interweb about it. Most excitingly, it means that Jules is now a full-time dad/house husband. It's like I've landed in feminist heaven. He even has my tea ready for me at 6. Still working on him greeting me at the door with my pipe and slippers. I'm going to make that a stretch goal in his performance review this year. Am I still blathering on about this? It appears I am.

**Jules, if you're reading this, please keep calm. I went for the moderately priced stuff i the cellar.

Oh. My. God.

A wedding to remember. That's all I say. Actually, one more thing - would you ever speak to him again?



Thanks I Hate The Earth.

Flowers a la Frou Frou

 

 

 

 

 

It's that time of year again.

Every year I beg my mother to make me a christmas cake. Every year, after moaning and threatening not to, she makes me the cake.

Every year as she gives me the cake, she warns me that I'm not to eat it until the week before Christmas and ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE GUESTS MEGAN. Every year I scoff it down so fast that there is no chance it will survive longer than, ahem, late November (maybe).

This year she got cunning. She texted Jules and told him that she'd given me the cake and that I was not allowed to touch it, NOT EVEN IF SHE SAYS IT'S AN EMERGENCY.

What she doesn't know is that Jules has left me alone with it. Mwahahahahaha.

Pop quiz!

And no cheating.

What is MacGyver's first name?

I'll start. My money is on Muffin. Muffin MacGyver.

Chook, chook, chook, chook, chook...

 

 

I'm not one to brag buuuuuuut....

I am. So I'll tell you what happened yesterday.

I got home from a lovely weekend at the farm to find fresh flowers in the hallway and living room, the sunday newspaper, a block of my very favourite chocolate, fresh water in the kettle and tea pot filed with tea all ready for me to make a cuppa, and last but best, a pair of shoes that I have been lusting after for ages.

Man. I have it so good.

Get your 5+ a day right here

 

 

 

 

I miss you Wellington

Thanks Tash*

No stars tonight

What a wonderful evening.

It's pouring with rain for the first time in such a very long time.

I have the latest edition of Art New Zealand to cuddle up with.

And I have a beautiful new supply of watercolours, paper and brushes waiting for me to open in the morning.

Very victorian

Ladyhawke, you make me delirious

Green. Oh so very green.

Wellingtonians, how jealous I am of you all right now. To have a truckload of vintage goodies from the South Island coming your way this weekend... man, I'd love to be there.

Have fun. Do me proud and shop 'til you drop.

Chocolate couture

This dress is made from chocolate. A DRESS that's also CHOCOLATE. Genius.

(Thanks MammaPop).

So true Johnny, so true

I read yesterday that Johnny Depp once said that with toddlers you're always on suicide and homicide watch - if they're not doing something that will kill themselves, they're doing something that will kill someone else.

Never a truer word spoken.

Unrelated statements all in one post without bulletpoints because I can't work out how to make them. Help me someone.

I can't even begin to describe how blissful it is to be able to blog from my bed.

Managing a shop is harder than it looks. I thought I'd prance about and play with pretty things. In 4 weeks, there has been very little prancing.

A woman came into the shop today to complain about how expensive everything was. Well, that's the only reason I can think of for her being there because she didn't buy anything. But then something really strange happened. She returned later to take one of our business cards to use as a birthday card for her one year old granddaughter. Wow.

Facebook is both a blessing and a curse for me. It's a blessing because I get to stay in regular contact with friends I love with all my heart. It's a curse because I still feel anxious, even 100 years after the fact, about what some people I went to high school with think of me. Or should that be thought of me then? Or maybe what they both thought of me then and think of me now? Hrrmm, how about I try relaxing and not caring about any of it.

I've spent most of my evening in front of a roaring fire. It's November. AND I'M IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

Yay Obama. You got my vote in spirit. That reminds me - I must remember to vote in our national election tomorrow. You too. Unless you're not allowed to. But otherwise you should vote.

Mmmmm is for marmite