Julia (Miss 4) was quite amazed by the pictures on TV of the recent floods in Queensland. She has been playing with her Noah's Ark and we have talked about that story, and the local creek recently rose quite high and flooded the community paths so she has seen what too much rain can do.
It seems now that every large body of water is a "flood". We live near a large lake and last time we crossed the bridge she exclaimed "Hey Mum, look at that huge flood!"
We are planning a holiday to the USA and have been talking to Julia (Miss 4) about it. She is very excited to be going on an aeroplane to get to our destination.
A few days ago, we passed by a shop with a range of world globes, so we stopped to look at them. Julia showed me where Australia is on the globe, then I showed her where we will be going.
"It's a good thing we are going on a plane to get there", she said. "Because there are a lot of floods on the way".
Noah's Ark
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.
My little girl has grown up and has started pre-school this year. Julia (Miss 4) is so happy to be there that she hardly gave me a second glance as she walked in the door.
I've enjoyed her baby stage and her toddler stage and I'm really looking forward to this pre-school year because she is going to learn so much and have so much fun while doing it. I love watching her grow up and develop new skills and friendships, and experience so many new things.
We were talking about school a short while ago and had a memorable conversation that strikes me as one of those beautiful simplistic views of the world as seen by a 4-year-old.
Julia: "I'm looking forward to high school!"
Me: "You've got a while to go yet - first you go to pre-school, then primary school, then high school and then university".
Julia: "What do you do at university?"
Me: "You can learn how to be lots of things, like a teacher or an accountant".
Julia: "What does an accountant do?"
Me: "Works with numbers".
Julia: "Oh, like The Count - you know Mum, from Sesame Street".
Priceless.
Sesame Street: No More Nappies
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.
Drum roll please! Here are the winners, drawn at random for each handmade package and advised via email.
Package 1 goes to Kim Scott and Package 2 goes to Lib from Lib Creative.
Congratulations to you both!
Thank you so much to everyone who took a look at my blog, visited all those lovely Facebook pages and websites and sent in competition entries. I hope you all found lots to like on those wonderful FB pages. Thanks also to my amazingly talented FB friends who let me share their goodies with you!
I am now dabbling in the handmade world myself too! I have a new Facebook page Mini-Me Handcrafts with my own handcrafted items - at present I am busy with children's crocheted ponchos. It's wonderful to be creating something to share and I hope you will take a look and "like" my new page.
This is just the start of my new handmade ventures...
Handmade Children's Ponchos
Available now from Mini-Me Handcrafts.
Personalised Children's Books
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.
You should all know by now that I love beautiful handmade clothes, and Julia's wardrobe is full of gorgeous outfits made by so many talented friends on Facebook. But my love of handmade extends past dresses & skirts to the many other wonderful handmade goodies that can be found on Facebook, and I'd love to share some with you too.
So to celebrate 1500 Facebook "likers" for Jelly Bean Books, it's time for another giveaway competition! I have two little packages of beautiful handmade goodies to give away, all made by my wonderful Facebook friends.
Covered diary by Anita at Winnie&Clem
Little Shopper Tote by Amanda at appleberry kids
Set of Lunchkins reusable sandwich & snack bags by Kelli at KelliOne & Lunchkins
Ultimate design dress (size 4) by Tracey at Sugar an Spice
Strawberry bows & clips by Katrina at Bowlicious Boutique
Button ponytail ties by Eloise at Itty Bitty
Pandora bracelet by Sonia at Sonni Lou Designs
Chockitty Rocky Road by Chivonne at Chockitty Rocky Road
Coin purse/mini pouch by Michelle at Lella M
Business card holder by Jac at Jac & Skeet
Package 2:
Covered diary & pouch by Kerry at MyOneBrownMouse
Charlie cap (50cm) by Anita at Winnie & Clem
Happy Bugs skirt (size 3) by Melissa & Scott at maggiej designs
Pink Korker Streamer Hair Ties by Bec at Pretty Things Distract Me
Owl clips by Simone at Incy Wincy Bows
DS Duffel with shoulder strap by Jac at Jac & Skeet
Dolly bracelet by Lorraine at Punky Pixie Bracelets
Chockitty Rocky Road by Chivonne at Chockitty Rocky Road
Zippered coin purse by Jacq at Feralique
Sewing companion by Leila at Ila Star Creations
I must tell you that these are all new items - I'm only giving these away because I have purchased some for myself too! If you would like to know more about these beautiful items, please take a look at the photo album on my Facebook page.
For a chance to win one of these fantastic handmade packages, all you have to do is visit & "like" these wonderful Facebook pages, answer the 18 questions below, then email your answers to me at chris@jellybeanbooks.com.au. One entry per person please! Entries will close at 9.00pm (NSW) on Monday 14th February 2011 at which time all correct entries will go into a random draw for each package. The winners will be notified by email, then I will let you know the winners on Facebook.
- Winnie&Clem - Name four styles of hats currently available from Winnie&Clem.
- appleberry kids - How many sizes are available in the Shopper Tote bags, and what are they called?
- Bowlicious Boutique - Name four different types of hair accessories made by Bowliscious Boutique.
- Itty Bitty - Name three types of accessories that use fabric buttons at Itty Bitty.
- Punky Pixie Bracelets - Name four types of dolly bracelets that you can find at Punky Pixie Bracelets.
- Chockitty Rocky Road - Take a look at the website www.chockittyrockyroad.com and name four types of Chockitty Rocky Road available.
- Lella M - What two items make up Lella M's "Out & About Set"?
- KelliOne - Please visit Lunchkins Facebook page and tell me what three sizes are available in Lunchkins reusable sandwich & snack bags?
- MyOneBrownMouse - Name four different items made by MyOneBrownMouse.
- maggiej designs - What two creatures are available as soft toys from maggiej designs?
- Pretty Things Distract Me - PTDM has recently gone wholesale only. Please visit the website www.prettythingsdistractme.com.au and name two of their stockists.
- Sugar an Spice - Name four of the dresses in the "Outfits for Sale" album.
- Incy Wincy Bows - Name three different types of bows available.
- Sonni Lou Designs - Name three available Valentine's Day cards.
- Feralique - Name three different items made by Feralique.
- Ila Star Creations - Name four different items made by Ila Star Creations.
- Jac & Skeet (formerly Jac Be Nimble) - Name four of the available Toddler BackaPackas.
- And finally... which package would you like to go into the draw to win?
For an extra chance in your package draw, just make a comment below to let me know which is your favourite handmade package and why!
Good luck and have fun everyone!
Personalised Children's Books
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.
On Sesame Street, everybody is friends with everyone else. There are best friends, like Elmo & Abby Cadabby, roommates like Ernie & Bert, and Oscar the Grouch has a pet friend named Slimey.
Julia (Miss 4) has a few good friends, and I expect she will make a lot more at pre-school this year. I asked her what a friend is, and she said "a friend is someone who you love and who you like, and you play with them, and visit them, and talk to them".
I have met so many friends on Facebook for which I am so grateful. Kate from Indigo Magenta was so nice in her recent FB post - "Finding like-minded, talented & supportive business mums on Facebook has been such a nice surprise" - I couldn't agree more, Kate.
I love to share with you all because that's what friends do, right? So to celebrate 1500 "likers" on my Facebook page, I have a special blogpost planned for next week - a handmade giveaway! I'd love you all to enter for a chance to win a package of gorgeous handmade items made by some of my favourite friends on FB. More details next week...
To finish, here is a fabulous quote that I think sums it all up nicely:
"A friend is absolutely the best thing to have in the whole world."
-- Sesame Street
My Day on Sesame Street
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.
As this is now my fourth blogpost showcasing gorgeous handmade outfits made by highly talented Facebook ladies, I think it must be obvious that I have an addiction to which I'm afraid there may be no cure. In my defence, who could resist such beautiful fabrics, designs & workmanship?
This beautiful dress is by Tracey at Sugar an Spice. This is just one example of her ultimate design dress, featuring a pretty shirred top, flowing skirt and wonderful fabric combinations. I couldn't resist the gorgeous soft apricot and cream of this fabrics in this dress.
This pillowcase dress is by Kerry at MyOneBrownMouse. To me, Kerry's use of denim and contrasting fabrics is her feature style, although she makes so much more, including fabulous boyswear & gorgeous accessories, and all with such beautiful detail.
I adore the gorgeous, bright fabric in this dress, which is by Danielle at Two Little Munchkins. Danielle uses pretty fabrics and simple designs to make wonderful, affordable clothes for boys & girls.
Whilst this pretty, cotton halter dress technically isn't handmade, the stunning hand-dyed rainbow colours are by Robyn at Rainbows & Ringlets. Robyn uses such bright, vivid colours to make beautiful happy rainbows in a wide range of clothing items, from socks, singlets and tees to dresses, hats and headbands.
So whilst my handmade addiction can't be cured, at least it is something that I can share with you all. My own little princess Miss 4 has the most amazing wardrobe full of beautiful handmade outfits made by the most talented and amazing ladies on Facebook. Stick with me and you will probably get to see plenty more!
Ballerina Princess
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.
I continue to be amazed by the generosity of people everywhere during such a time of devastation and loss. It seems that the spirit of Noah's Ark continues as many hands are extended to help others.
Following my last post, I have been fortunate to have participated in many auctions, some as a donor, and some as a bidder. It is heartwarming to see the Facebook and blogging communities banding together to continue the fund raising to assist with the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal for the Queensland floods. There are also charity auctions with funds going to the Salvation Army and the RSPCA Queensland.
I have found a wonderful auction site called Possum Pouches. This amazing website is run by Robyn who operates regular charity auctions and her current charity of choice is Angel Flight - auctions are running concurrently with Flood Relief auctions for this month. Please take a look at the website and see how you can become involved in this fantastic community resource.
Please continue to share these links so that others can participate in the fund raising. You can also see many links to Facebook and blog auctions in my last blog post. If you would like to share a link to any other fund raising effort, please let me know by commenting below.
Noah's Ark
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.
