12 Days of Christmas Giveaways!

The positive response I received to my pledge to have a hand made Christmas encouraged me to find a way to make it easier for others to join in. To trade in the aisles of major shopping centers, in favor of the aisles of craft markets or online marketplaces. To invest their shopping money into the community of makers around us, rather than off shore corporations. To buy beautiful, hand crafted and meaningful gifts, as opposed to mass produced plastic with a short life expectancy. It can be difficult to change our habits. It is faster to wander through a major store that has 'everything' than it is to browse though the many independent little stores, looking for the right thing. So, I have been hatching a plan to celebrate and advertise Australian makers here on the blog and make our job as consumers easier too. 

I have sought out twelve of my favourite makers, each of whom are offering one or two of their beautiful handmade items in a giveaway. One giveaway a day for the first twelve days of December! Each giveaway will be drawn the following day, giving everyone one day to enter. Twelve winners in total. (If you miss out on winning a giveaway but fall in love with an item, you will have time to purchase and receive it before Christmas.) 

My aim is to encourage those wanting to add a little or a lot of handmade to their Christmas, while supporting some of my favourite crafters at the same time, by introducing you to them. So join me by celebrating the first twelve days of Christmas with a giveaway a day, beginning with Red Tree Designs on the first of December. Please feel free to share the 12 Days of Giveaways on your blog, facebook, twitter etc.

(I want to be completely transparent and let you know that there is no financial gain in this for me. I am not being paid in products either. I was so encouraged by the sense of community I felt with the ornament swap, that I thought this was another way to extend the networks in our community. The cost to the makers is the giveaway item/s and postage to the winner only.) 

A huge thank you to the twelve wonderful makers who have offered their wares for this 12 days of Christmas celebration, and a huge thank you to everyone reading. 

Wishing you the best of luck!

In these parts

1. New in the garden - rockmelon, rosella, marigold, dahlia and peppermint

2. Necklace orders wrapped and ready to go, complete with new mini cards from Moo

3. Off the needles, In Threes, complete with thrifted wooden buttons

4. Kitty cat feet poking out from under the curtain (sheet) in our bedroom

5. Tomatoes fresh from the garden and waiting to be preserved

6. Another beautiful sunflower

9 months old

Our blue eyed baby girl is nine months old today. Emerson has been out as long as she was in, as they say. I'm not sure if those beautiful blue eyes are here to stay or not. Cohen's turned brown like mine, but Em may take after her Dada. Little by little she is on the move. Her preferred method is a bit of bottom shuffling, sometimes she pushes herself backwards while on her tummy. She seems to think about crawling at times, rocking on all fours, but she just loves to sit this girl of ours.

At nine months of age Emerson is quite good at communicating her wants, as well as her dissatisfaction.  She squeals loudly when you take tiny forbidden objects away from her! Emerson's idea of sleeping through the night is having only two feeds. Her fascination with the cat continues. She is perfectly happy now to sit on a blanket while we work and play in the yard. Meanwhile she tries to consume as much grass as possible. She is happiest in the sling when out and about and peeks over my shoulder at people. It's gorgeous seeing everyone from young children to elderly couples smiling and waving at her, or playing peek a boo. Her second favourite place is the bath. Her chubby legs hardly rest once they start splashing in the water. She never seems to tire of it and looks amazed each time, as if it were the first bath she'd ever had. Food is more and more important to her, and though they say 'food is fun until they're one,' to Emerson it is serious business. Happily she will eat just about anything. Given how fussy Cohen is about food, I can only hope this lasts!

Oh my dear Emerson, I could swear that you just get cuter and cuter. I really couldn't imagine life without the two of you now.

Swap Link Progress

There are only four days left to finish up your ornaments and get them in the post! How is everyone going?

I love clicking around and seeing the wonderful ornaments that have been made so far. There is so much talent and creativity in this blogging community of ours. I have also discovered some lovely new blogs in the process. Thank you to all those who have linked up so far or sent me an email to say their ornaments have been posted. If you haven't started your ornament yet there is still time! I would hate for anyone to miss out. Difficulties do arise though, so please email me if your ornaments won't be in the post by the 1st of December.

Some of the beautiful ornaments that may be on their way to your letter box.
Makers blogs from left to right - Paravent, Typically Red, Yardage Design,
Creative Chaos NZ, Zaranne Handmade, Pumpkin Sunrise,
Imogen Eve, Petticoats and Peplums, Tales from Swallow Barn

Seeds for the pantry

Seeds are one of the many rewards of gardening, and I find quite often that they are simply beautiful. These coriander seeds will stored for future planting and eating. They smell while I picked them was beautiful. I could perhaps have left them to dry a little longer before harvesting them, but I was excited, I had two occupied children, and I have learnt to strike while the iron is hot. They are drying spread out on a baking tray instead.

I've long had in mind a pantry full of seeds, herbal teas, dried mixed herbs and spices collected from the garden. With each season that passes this is slowly becoming a reality.

I'm looking forward to making this Moroccan-style spice rub.

Do you harvest seeds and herbs from the garden for your pantry?

Do you cook with coriander seeds?

Do you have any recipe suggestions?

31

I arrived home with a car full of groceries and two tired children on Thursday to find this dear old lady waiting for me on the drive. I have wanted one of these old sewing machine tables for years. Sometimes it is especially useful to be known in the family as the vintage loving crafty one. Particularly when a family friend saves something like this from going to the tip. A new nail or two will straighten up the wonky drawers, but I do love her just as she is. I moved her straight in to our bedroom, with only quiet protests from my dear husband. It seems good things do come to those who wait.

I celebrated my thirty-first birthday yesterday, along with my dear twin sister. The vase, flowers, candle holders, doilies, tape and brooch were all birthday gifts. So too some Lovely perfume, a chameleon rose for the garden and a set of these gorgeous knitting needles, which are currently on their way to me. Feeling especially loved and spoilt.

Thanks for the birthday wishes on Facebook and Instagram too.
Hoping you all have a wonderful weekend.

An abundance of seeds

Our first sunflower seed harvest!

Yesterday Cohen and I removed the many, many seeds from the largest of our giant sunflowers, all the while discussing seeds, flowers and cycles. He was fascinated and only stopped his work in order to crack open the seed cases and eat their contents. With more sunflowers in the garden it's a process we shall be repeating again soon. 

I intend to save some seeds for planting, roast some for eating, store some for baking and try this cinnamon vanilla sunflower butter recipe too. 

Do you have any other suggestions?

Yarn Along

A row here, a few stitches there, the In Threes nears completion. Even in small doses I find knitting can be quite the balm for a case of toddler fatigue. (My oh my, some days these soon to turn four year olds are very hard work.) This little cardigan shall be wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree alongside the Camilla Babe, the book Extra Yarn and a Dragonfly Toys wooden squirrel puzzle for Emerson. (I think they have sold out of it, but it is this one.)

I am also close to finishing my book club book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night- Time. A work of fiction, the book reads as a murder mystery written by a fifteen year old boy with autism. Christopher, the protagonist, is an endearing character. I have read that some readers were disappointed that the novel is not really a murder mystery at all, as the victim is in fact a dog and it is clear quite early on who the killer is, before Christopher uncovers this piece of information himself. In the process though he uncovers further mysteries which change the course of his life. I find it is quite a clever and subtle book. Perhaps not to all tastes. But I found it to be engaging and a little heartbreaking at the same time.

What are you creating or reading?

-

Joining in with Ginny's Yarn Along.
Ravelry.

Shop Update

A rainbow of handmade beads

'Rainbow Bright'

'Carnival'

There are bold brights and blushing pastels in today's shop update. Bright pinks, kermit greens and fruity oranges. Champagne taupes, fairy floss lilacs and powdery blues. There are black, chocolate brown and turquoise coloured braided cottons. And there is the option to design your own necklace too.

Are you a pastel or a rainbow loving person? Or a bit of both?

You can find them all here.

Swap Progress Link Up

Everyday learning

I am a firm believer in the old adage that you learn something new everyday. Sometimes simple, other times profound. Lately I have learnt that;

tomato jam is the new must have condiment in our house
you don't have to be good at everything
toddlers will argue about most things
Cashmere comes from the soft undercoat of the Kashmir goat
frozen cherry tomatoes are handy for using in a curry when there are no ripe tomatoes
two baby teeth are more capable than you would think
people would often rather be right than happy
look for the positive
a bad morning doesn't necessarily mean a bad day
a heartbeat noise emanating from the rear of the car may be a screw in your tyre

DIY gifts for guys

L - R: Knit gold club covers, leather journal, lanyard key ring,
monogramed ties, laptop sleeve, mustache mug,
comic coaster, beer soap, toiletries bag.

I find that making gifts for guys is much trickier than crafting for the ladies and little ones in my life.  And I know from the comments on the last post that I am not alone in this. I have been browsing the web for inspiration though, and I found several great crafty ideas for different skill levels. I am especially loving those knitted golf club cozies.

Do you have any go-to man crafts? Any other suggestions for making handmade and meaningful Christmas gifts for our dearly loved gents?

A Handmade Christmas

I have made a pledge to have a handmade Christmas. Will you join me?

My intention is to make, and buy handmade, where ever possible. In particular I want to support Australian crafters and independent businesses. I love the idea of Christmas. Of traditions, sharing, giving and gathering as a family. But too often all the 'stuff' leaves me with an empty feeling. The plastic toys inside the crackers which will be cleared in to the bin along with the expensive wrapping paper. The 'stocking fillers' which will amuse the little ones for a few days until they are lost or broken and then find their way to landfill too. The toy baskets stuffed with all the new gifts, but no real appreciation for them. Instead I want my money to support the talented crafters whose blogs I follow. I want less, with more meaning.

Vintage Tram Roll Menu Tea towel designed and hand screen printed by Nic of Yardage Design. 

Instead of wandering the aisles of chain stores, I am clicking on the shop links on my favourite blogs. Instead of browsing markets filled with items made in China, I am browsing Madeit.com. There are so many talented makers, I don't think it will be very difficult to swap store brought for handmade. Handmade doesn't have to mean daggy hand painted door stops (unless that's your kind of thing.) Handmade can mean beautiful, original, unique, well crafted. It can mean supporting independent designers, stay at home mothers, self taught artisans, sewers, print makers, jewellers and ceramic artists.

Doilie clutches handmade by Margeaux of Red Tree Designs.

I am being realistic about this pledge. I know there will be no escaping the purchase of such things as books for Grandpa, band shirts for the uncles and Lego for a certain toddler. I'm sure you will have a few of those inescapable purchases too. But given that we all probably spend more money on gifts at Christmas time than at any other time of the year, I think this is a great time to support the makers that form such a big part of our blogging community. If you don't have the time to make it yourself, why not buy it handmade rather than store brought? Why not think about buying less gifts, but better quality items? Like Jodie, I embrace this saying regarding gifts for my children, "Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read." More gifts doesn't mean you love them more. Thoughtful gifts last and hold their meaning.

Hot water bottle and knitted cozy designed and knitted on a hand powered knitting machine by Mellie Lang.

So, will you join me? Have I encouraged you to make and buy more handmade gifts this Christmas? I'm sure I'll be preaching to the choir for many of my readers, who already strive for a handmade Christmas. Perhaps you could leave a comment about the ways you celebrate with handmade in December? Or the ways you'd like to make your Christmas more crafty this year? I have a plan to help, which I will unveil soon. I'll just say, it includes the talented crafters whose work I have included in this post.

Instagram snippets

1. The latest addition to the garden and high on my list of favourite flowers.

2. A few more rows here and there.

3. Sandles for Summer.

4. Patting cats is serious business for Emerson.

5. Store brought and homegrown. I'm calling my eggplant a dwarf variety. It was fresh and tasty though!

6. The dinning room/ crafting table.

7. Making beads - four new designs in the shop today.

8. Potato stamping Christmas wrapping paper with Cohen.

9. Admiring the blocks of sculpey colour.

Swap Progress Link Up

Whole Larder Love

Kitty recently had the good fortune to receive a second copy of Rohan's book, Whole Larder Love, which she has generously passed on to me. It's a beautiful title alone, is it not? It arrived in the mail today and has that enticing new book smell. I couldn't resist flicking through the pages as soon as the little ones went down for their naps. Already I sense the authenticity with which Rohan writes and am looking forward to sitting quietly with the book and a glass of wine, delving in to the insights, inspirations and recipes - shopping list and book marks at hand.

Thank you dear Kitty!

-

PS. Swappers, pop back tomorrow to leave a link to any ornament swap related posts you have made this past week. Perhaps you have started your ornament? Maybe you have posted inspiration, or tutorials for ornaments? Perhaps you instagramed some progress shots? Share them with our crafty community here tomorrow.

Shop Update!

I have been happily and busily at work in the creation of these handmade beads. As a result there are several new colourful necklaces in the shop today. They make a fun addition to an outfit or a lovely gift. They also work beautifully as a feeding/teething necklace for little ones, as they are non-toxic, colourful, smooth and can handle the attention.

You can find them all here.