A Merry Christmas to one and all

Jane & Tony circa 1970

A Merry Christmas to all our family and friends, and especially to all the new friends I have made since joining the blog world. Thank you for your friendship, your kindness and your inspiration.

A Kindergarten Christmas

Well, my big girl finished her 1st year of Kinder this week. We started a week of celebration with a nativity/christmas concert in which Sophia was an Angel. How cute! There were many Dads and grandparents there too. Next the children had a Christmas party with a clown and lots of party food. Christmas cards were exchanged, presents and one very special kiss from one best friend to another

Seven Things...A Christmas version

I saw this over at Carries sight and thought it would be fun, so here goes.

1. My family always had a real Christmas tree culled from native bushland, my husband thought this was stealing so we now have a artificial one!
2. My mother made the best Christmas pudding known to man. It was so good, my father and I asked for it for our birthday in June one year.
3. My mother used to let me open one gift before I went to bed on Christmas eve.
4. We always watch "Carols by Candlelight" on Christmas eve, and possibly the repeat on Christmas day. But what good Melbournian doesn't!
5. I always opened my Christmas presents at the foot of my parents bed on Christmas morning, carefully chosing one present at a time for each of us to open.
6. My family have beautifully made Christmas stockings, my brother and I had pillow slips, which my mother would fill with the likes of; an orange, an apple & a banana, undies and socks, and a personal gift.(do you think my parents went through the depression & war!)
7. I don't even know the name of my favourite Christmas movie! It is about a guy who needs to find a Christmas tree for Rockefeller Center in N.Y.C. and the story of the Nun who has grown with this tree. My Mum grew up in a convent too, so it has a personal touch!

I'm Back!

I'm back at last. heave a sigh of relief! It was like coming down from an addiction. No daily fix of all things Internet, seeing what all my blogging friends were up to e.g. where Jodie is up to in her house...what new shoes Lisa is coveting...what new crafty project Monica has made.
And for the swaps I've taken part in whilst of offline;another sisters shoebox swap, and a vintage Xmas stocking swap, photo's will be added soon. You can view what I sent Chrisi at her blog.
The girls are both well. Sophia is preparing for her kinder concert, singing lots of Christmas songs...at home...at the shops....anywhere. She is so excited! Tessa has started to form more words, and is going through quite a growth spurt which is great. Daddy is starting a new exciting project at work, and as for me, I have joined the Kinder committee for the new year!
The girls are enjoying lots of outside play now the summer has arrived, although I can't say we are enjoying the 30'oc plus days usually it's off to the pool to cool down. We have found a fantastic wave pool not to far away that the girls just love it. I'm so proud of what confident swimmers they are becoming.
Anyway off to playgroup....promise some pictures soon

Missing in Action

Will be so for a little while! will be able to check my mail via m.i.law, but the laptop has become a casualty of war and so I won't be able to post until we acquire another. Best wishes to all....Jane

A wonderfully generous week

What a wonderfully generous week we have had, Tessa received this cute bunny and Sophia

this cheeky monkey, actually which one is the cheeky monkey? And I received

these gorgeous Vintage buttons and fantastic braid, all for doing a small favour for RicRac. Thank you so much Jodie these gifts are much appreciated, and only go to prove the power of friendship and kinship in the blog world.

And, on a day in which we remembered the 10th anniversary of my Fathers passing, I received this. It is my beautiful Four Seasons Fall Quilt all the way from Jeanette in Finland. I initially said that the quilt I received would be used by the girls for their dolls......no way this is too beautiful.

Jeanette even included applique (my favourite) of an angel(her favourite), a beautiful letter and some extra quilting fabrics. My photography doesn't do the colors justice. Here is the poem which brought me to tears included on the label

I believe there are angels among us

Sent down to us from somewhere up above

They come to you and me in our darkest hours

To show us how to live

To teach us how to give

To guide us with a light of love..

Thank you Jeanette, Thank you Jodie, and I love you Dad

U.F.O. Week

This week was put to good use with several Unfinished Objects either completed, or on their way to being so. I know we all have 1 or 2 (or 15).
Firstly the doll cot! Started before Tessa was born, meant to be for Sophia's 2nd birthday, but, rudely interrupted by someones very early arrival. It needs another sand and varnish, but better they use it than wait for Mum! So, finally the base was made and the mattress and old linen put to good use. I believe Manny the bear finds it very comfortable.



Secondly, the 'Cracker Box' repro. quilt. All it needed was the binding sewn down on 2 sides! An hours hand sewing, and it was finished...Yay! A quick look at the label on the back ....1996

Next my big challenge......hand quilting. I began these after seeing some similar Vintage 30's butterfly blocks at the Lancaster County Fair in Virginia. I resisted the purchase, but once I got home had to reproduce them. The only problem is that I used my favourite cotton batting which is not the best to hand quilt. And so it's been sitting there ever since.

I was in the U.S.A. visiting my 5 year old niece Leah, she will be 18 this December!!!

And finally Judie Rothermels' 'Tea Leaves' quilt, only started 5 years ago. Cut and ready to go. One wheel complete. I thought I might continue and practice my hand piecing skills. Will let you know how that one goes