Crafty Mail

Beautiful birthday tern wool from Quince & Co

Also for my birthday, Knit Picks interchangeable cable needle set

DIY oobee kit from Maze & Vale

I realised something as I looked at these photos. Were it not for blogging none of the above would have arrived in my letter box. There would be no wool for knitting, no new cable needles and no softie kit. Without the friendship and inspiration found through blogging, I may never have taught myself to knit more than a garter stitch scarf, I would have no need of beautiful cable needles, and I wouldn't have been introduced to the wonderful work of Leslie from Maze & Vale. Life would be all the poorer without it.

And I do so love crafty mail.

Also in the mail

The StickyGram magnets I treated myself to arrived (printed from my Instagram photos). They are now adorning my fridge. I am thinking they could make great little Christmas gifts for the Grandparents or for family overseas. 

Hoping you a lovely weekend. 

We intend to visit the French Festival at Southbank, if the weather improves.

What plans do you have?

*If you decide to treat yourself too, this code will get you $2 off your order: FRIEND616P

Surprise Packages

A cold is doing it's second round of our household presently. Cohen's spirits remain high, though I have been feeling rather miserable and poor Emerson is comforted only by being held. Everywhere there are tissues. The weather is overcast and rainy. Making for quiet, pyjama clad days indeed.

Yesterday the postman left a brown box on my door step. Inside the kraft paper there was most certainly a book, though which book I could not say. I only knew that Kylie mentioned she'd sent me a gift. I wiped a nose, settled a baby, made a cup of tea and extracted the contents with anticipation. I was not disappointed. I have long admired Kylie's taste and sense of style. Though strangers in real life, we have been reading each others blogs the past three years. She has chosen for me perfectly.

'Labour of Love: Knitting patterns for treasured girls,' by Danish knitwear designer Vibe Sondergaard is full of special knitting patterns. The following three are among my favourites. Sweet, feminine and not too childish, each knit would surely be a treasure.

Thank you Kylie! I am looking forward to knitting something for you in return.

Special Parcels

There have been a few parcels in my letter box of late, in the way of gifts and yarn. Wrapped in vintage sheeting and tied with a special ribbon and a note, Tania sent Emerson these gorgeous vintage baby dresses to add to her collection. I'm lost for words at the thoughtfulness and generosity. Thank you again Tania! They are such darling little dresses and I am sure you will be spotting them on the blog in future.

Also in the mail, that bunny to the right of the photo was the contents of this parcel. A sweet little nightlight from Little Brown Mouse, Emerson's Easter gift. (Though Cohen is utterly fascinated by it.) And in another parcel, my new wool arrived from America, which I shall share with you tomorrow.

Oh, I do so love finding parcels on my door step, or hiding in my letter box!
And you? Have you had any special mail lately?
A post card? A parcel? A handwritten letter?

Giveaway winner!

With the electronic help of random.org, the winner of the *bespoke* zine giveaway is - Tania! Congratulations Tania!
Thanks once again to all who entered. 

Grateful

Feeling incredibly grateful for the warm welcome and wonderful gifts Emerson has received since her arrival. From a gorgeous parcel containing hand knits with the sweetest bunny buttons from a lovely friend, to her first piece of jewellery, engraved with her name and birth date, from her loving Grandpa Lowry. (I may have cried when he gave us this. I still have my own baby bracelet.) So too, vintage receiving blankets, soft toys, rattles, clothes, booties, bibs and cards. This generosity has been matched only by the thoughtfulness behind each gift.

Seeing all these special items in the nursery, each with a story, reminding us of all the people we love in our life, has made the room feel so much more finished and part of our home. And for that I am more than a little grateful too.

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36 weeks. Another ultrasound today. Perhaps our last black and white visions of our little ones' internal world before we meet him/her in person. In the meantime, I've been distracting myself with cooking, knitting, reading and resting. Wondering all the while, nonetheless, how much longer it will be. One week? Four? And taking each moment as it comes.

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For as long as I can remember I have had a 'Grandma' Doris, who I love dearly. She has been neighbours with my family for over thirty years. And although strictly no relation whatsoever, she has delightfully filled the role of Grandmother and continues to to this day. Proving that sometimes you can indeed choose your family.

In the same way, Cohen and I have adopted an extra Mother in law. Gratefully appropriating my sisters lovely Mother in law, Clare, into our little family. Now, as Doris was to me, Cohen also has an extra Grandmother. And I have a kind, supportive and thoughtful 'Mother in law.'

Above is a little 'thinking of you' package she sent me recently.

Do you have special people in your life you've adopted into your family?

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I love mail...

Particularly when it comes in the form of a first run of fabric by the very talented Belinda at Gretchenmist. I love the design and the colour. And Belinda was naughty enough to include one of her new prints, which will be joining her other work I have collected for my studio.

Many thanks Belinda!

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The mail man certainly showed the letter box a little love when he handed these over yesterday. The latest issue of Frankie and look! Hand knitted booties! Hot off the needles of the lovely Nell, direct from the UK. Such a lucky girl am I, I won these sweet pom pom booties in a joint giveaway between Nell's shop 'Happy Circus' and the inspiring blog, 'The Beetle Shack.' These little darlings have been packed away with my growing collection of handmade items for the bump. Thank you ladies!

In other very exciting news, Susie from Flowerpress interviewed me for the her Australian makers series of 'Show and Tell'. You can see the interview over at here blog here. Thanks so much Susie! What a thoughtful and generous introduction. It was my pleasure!

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I love mail...

Particulary when receiving an intriguing parcel from an especially long way away. On this occassion I was delighted to unwrap this wonderful 'Ampersand brooch' and handmade card, care of the talented Anna, as part of the Flower Press brooch swap. How perfectly perfect it all is!

Thanks so much Anna, I love it! It's very 'me' indeed and shall be worn often.

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Anna's blog and shop.

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Cohen and I made paper chains to hang around the doors yesterday. A great distraction as the storm hit. When Cohen got a little nervous about the rolling rumbling thunder we sang, 'I hear thunder, I hear thunder, hark don't you?' over and over until he was so engrossed in playing with his toys, he wasn't the least interested in the thunder, or the paper chains. What's a mother to do in such a situation but hope the power stays on, make a cup of coffee and weave in the ends of a newly finished crochet blanket in appropriately stormy colours? Indeed, that's what I did. 

And of course, look lovingly at the Flower Press tea towels that arrived in the mail and wonder how one is to part with them come Christmas...

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I couldn't resist this dear little pincushion, from Melissa's tiny happy shop. Such lovely stitching and perfect vintage ric-rac don't you think? A packet of vintage hand sewing needles and embroidery thread accompanied the tansy pincushion on it's trip from New Zealand.

Thank you so much Melissa, I love it.

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Also, the lovely Kitty is giving away twelve vintage sheet fat quarters over here. Be quick, the giveaway ends tomorrow.

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I had not the least idea that itching could be so problematic. A symptom of an allergic reaction, to we know not what, saw me rushing to the doctors today and leaving with armfuls of medication and an injection, another to follow tomorrow.

Thank goodness for my dear sister, who has come to keep me company and amuse the little man. He's endlessly fascinated by her iPod and ear phones. And has been cheering me up with his dear little hat, received in the post yesterday from a fantastically gifted friend.

I could never look this cute in a hat.

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Edit: It was me with the allergic reaction, not Cohen. Sorry, I didn't make that particularly clear.

Thank you Miss Emma Lamb...

Recently I was the very lucky winner of Emma's pincushion giveaway.

And just look at those extra goodies she sent in the package!

Emma took much nicer photos of Phyllis than I have... isn't she lovely?

(Both Emma and Phyllis.)

Rainy delivery...

We are having the most delightful rainy weather. It has cooled everything right down and given the grass and the asphalt that just rained smell. Our dear mail man rode through the rain to deliver a package from Amy and her Badskirt shop today. Lots of pieces of gorgeous fabric intended for a little something for a little boy. Aren't they fantastic? I love those little blue people who look like they are dancing! Thanks Amy!

The rainy weather has been perfect for sewing and while the plants are getting a drink I have been working on a Christmas throw I hope to show you tomorrow, as well as making this sweet dress for a lovely friend's little sweetheart. Hope you are having a lovely, productive Wednesday too.

I love mail...

Look what came in the post yesterday....

A signed copy of

Amanda Blake Soule's "Handmade Home".

While Cohen was napping, I was reading.

After dinner, I was reading.

And then?

I finished.

I finished reading the whole lovely, inspiring, beautifully made book.

And now I am thinking about all the projects I can make...

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Edit: Don't forget to enter my 1 year blog giveaway...

Super...

Hi, I'm Super Cohen and I like to go on super adventures and cheer people up. See my super cape? Helps me fly...

I'm really good at packing and never forget a thing...

I always wear my seat belt. Safety first...

I like walks along the beach and trips to the country...

I care about the environment and animals. Here I am at Obi Obi Creek in Maleny...

I love to catch up with my friends at Baroon Dam...

And I will always be grateful to Laurel for letting me come and live with Cohen and his family...

Thanks to the lovely Laurel, who made and sent this gorgeous teddy to Cohen so he would get better super fast. Super Cohen, Cohen and ourselves had a wonderful weekend at Maleny.

I love mail...

Yesterday hubby was on his way out when he checked the mail box. He held up a rather large 'United States Postal Service' envelope for me.

What could it be?

My gorgeous Doll Quilt Swap 7 mini quilt!

Complete with a lovely card, a crochet magazine, a sewing kit in a tin for crafting on the go...

(How clever is the magnet in the lid to hold your needles?!)

Amazing 30's reproduction style fabrics...

And of course, a gorgeous mini quilt, made by the lovely Quilty Bee. It is so sweet!

(Never work with babies and animals, or babies and quilts? Cohen would not look at the camera and stay still at the same time...)

I'm afraid you may have to have a peek over here to get a better photo of the gorgeous mini quilt. You see...

I took these photos after having taken some of Cohen covered in banana. It seems he put little sticky banana finger smudges on the lens.

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Thanks again Quilty Bee! I love it!

And thanks to all those involved in the Doll Quilt Swap and my swap mother Lynne!

Can't wait for the next one now.