With all my love ♥♥♥

Grandma: You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster.

Gil: Oh?

Grandma: Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride! 

Gil: What a great story. 

Grandma: I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it.

- Parenthood (1989) 

To my wonderful husband, 

Happy Valentine's Day, you are awesome! 

With all my love, 

Christine xxx 

This is my family. Aren't we wonderful? This fantastic custom Happy Family Illustration was created by the fabulously talented Katie Moon at Oohmoon - you read more about this creation on her blog post here. Thanks very much Katie! 

I love the colours and everything about this amazing piece! I will be getting a canvas print made later in the year which will look fantastic on our wall.

Love to all,
Christine xx

My favourite handmade buys of 2011

I have found so many wonderful and talented people over the past year who can make the most beautiful handmade delights and thought I should share some of my favourites with you. I love to shop handmade, knowing that I am supporting someone else just like me (except ten times more talented).

Handmade dresses are my weakness, and those I will share with you another day. This blog post is about those other handmade items - anything but clothes!

So in no particular order, here are my favourite handmade buys of 2011:

Jac & Skeet

This fabulous oversized order book cover was made for me by Jac & Skeet. When Jac posted a picture of this jelly bean fabric on her Facebook page, I knew it just had to be mine! My order book was a mess and pages were all over the place, but not any more! Jac can make these covers in any size and can make matching business card holders and notebook covers too. 

Also from Jac & Skeet are these Eco bags, made wonderful with a terrific facelift. Both sides of the bag are covered in my fabric choices from Jac's fabric stash. I get great comments from other shoppers when I pull out my bags, especially when craft and yarn shopping!

Becca's Biscuits

My favourite gifts for others last year were these cookie decorator kits from Becca's Biscuits. My initial kit purchase included plain white iced biscuits, edible ink pens, gift box, cello bags and ribbon. Julia loved decorating the biscuits with her own designs, then gift wrapping them for special friends and family.

The ink pens were used over and over for more kits purchased later in the year. I even bought lots of plain tiara shaped biscuits for her birthday party, and her friends loved decorating them too.

Beck makes fabulous custom cookie creations, cookie cards, biscuit bouquets and cookie pops, and her designs and decorations are just fantastic! I bought the letter biscuits for my husband's birthday, and Julia set them into place on the birthday table - what a great centrepiece! The decorated tiaras were a special Christmas gift for Julia's friends at calisthenics. The beautiful work that Beck puts into each decorated biscuit is truly amazing.

There are so many delicious biscuit flavours available, but our favourites are lemon cheesecake and gingerbread. She can post all over Australia too, so take a look at her website and order a sample collection pack today - you'll be hooked too! 

Lella M

My husband was searching online for a cover for his ipad so I suggested he might like one from Lella M. This cover fits perfectly and provides good lightweight protection for travel.

Michelle makes wonderful padded covers and pouches for phones, dvd players and ipads as well as a fabulous range of bags, coffee jackets, notebook covers and lots more. 

The Karma Soap Company

Julia has quite sensitive skin that can dry out easily so I thought I would try some goats milk soap from The Karma Soap Company. This soap is just heavenly! It leaves her skin so soft and smooth and smells wonderful. It's so good that now we are all using goats milk soap in this house!

Felicity makes all her soaps in small batches, and none of her soaps contain preservatives, alcohol or petroleum products. I have tried several fragrances, and whilst Julia's favourites are chocolate and vanilla, my favourites so far are lavender and frangipani. Take a look at the website for more details.

There's a very special offer right now in the shop: Simply spend $20 or more on any products and include something from the seconds album to receive a free 30ml sample tube of the new goats milk moisturiser - this offer is limited so don't miss out! 

Odds & Blobs

I bought this gorgeous passport cover from Odds & Blobs for our big overseas trip last year and it was great! So well made, and how nice to stand out from the usual boring blue covers that all look the same. I bought one for each of us and it made finding passports a little easier in my bag too.

Jess also makes eye masks, luggage tags and zip pouches and you can find a great range in her madeit store.

I hope you enjoy browsing these stores as much as I do. Please support handmade!

Christine xx

The Gallery - A family story...

It's been quite a while since I joined Tara's Sticky Fingers blog for The Gallery ... the theme this week is A Family Story.

This is the beginning of a story.

In September 1968, my father, my mother and I left Melbourne to live in the USA for twelve months. I was two years old and that's me, in my Dad's arms, in a red coat. The photo shows family and friends all wishing us a safe journey as we leave Australia.

My father had been granted a Government Scholarship to attend the University of California at Berkeley. After his graduation we travelled extensively throughout the USA and Europe, before finally returning home in January 1970. My Mum kept a wonderful collection of letters to and from family and friends and which tell the story of our time overseas.

It's a pity that letter writing is such a dying art, as the letter collection, along with a substantial number of photos and slides, is a real reminder of a significant time in my own family story.

Christine xx

Photo a day - a new month begins

It's a new month and the start of the February photo a day challenge from Fat Mum Slim.

1. My view today
The last week of school holiday activities and Julia (Miss 5) is playing tennis every morning. She can't really hit the ball, but she tries hard and she has fun.

2. Words
Some leftover alphabet stickers and a 5 year old at the craft table equals a beautiful note for me this morning.

3. Hands
I love the feel of Julia's chubby little hands in mine.

4. A stranger
Lots of strangers gathering together to watch Angelina Ballerina at the Canberra Theatre. It was a wonderful performance and Julia enjoyed it immensely.

5. 10 am
A beautiful sunny day today. This watch was given to me one Christmas by my Dad about 20 years ago and I have always loved the gold on the white face. It's nothing special but it's special to me.

6. Dinner
Oops! I forgot to take a photo before dinner, so this is after the clean up. Dinner was make your own mini hamburgers, so it was fun and delicious!

7. Button
I have had a few of these buttons for years, but they needed a special place. I have made a beautiful circle vest for a friend and these buttons are perfect for this outfit.

I am really enjoying this photo challenge!

Christine xx

Listography - Phrases that drive me crazy

I haven't joined Kate Takes 5 for Listography for ages, but the topic this week made me think about the things I hear constantly that really get on my nerves. Here are my top 5:

1. "Whatever" 

This just grates. It's so dismissive and disrespectful. 

2. "I don't remember" 

A favourite of Julia (Miss 5). Especially when recalling the days events or where she last saw her hat or shoes.

Closely followed by... 

3. "I don't know"

Another favourite in this house. 

4. "Devine" 

Not so much a phrase as a written word, I see this all the time on Facebook and I just want to cross it out with a red pen. The word is divine - use spell check please!

And one that Julia hates from her father: 

5. "Minor detail" 

I don't really mind this one, but it drives Julia crazy!

What phrases drive you crazy?

Christine xx

Me Time

Julia started school today. It was lovely to see her so keen to start Kindergarten. She was very happy to say goodbye and join in the activities.

So, child dropped at school, grocery shopping done, washing done - time for some me time! But what to do first?

I'd like to do some more research on my family tree... 

I have so many ideas for things I'd like to crochet... 

I need to plan an awesome family holiday...

I'd love to take a really good look around Pinterest... 

I have photo albums I need to bring up to date... 

I have a few scrapbooking pages half finished... 

Now if only I could find the time!

Christine xx

Me, again ♥

Wrapping up the last days of the January photo a day challenge from Fat Mum Slim. 

29. Inside my fridge
Ahhh - shopping day and the fridge looks full!

30. Nature
A visitor in our garden this morning. 

24. Me, again
A special picture of me drawn by Miss 5.

The February photo a day challenge has just started and it looks great! Stick around for more photo fun!

Christine xx