Christmas and everything else!

Oh my goodness! Where has the time (months) gone?

I never planned on taking so long off from blogging, in fact I never planned any break at all, but life just got in the way I suppose. But, here I am popping in to say hello and hopefully some of you might be still out there reading this little blog :)

Less than two weeks to Christmas and as usual I am completely disorganised. I have barely done any Christmas shopping, but have managed to get the tree and other decorations up. That always makes me feel a bit festive. This morning I dug out the Michael Buble Christmas dvd and I'm looking forward to playing that too.

I don't tend to choose a theme for my Christmas decorations as I just don't have the budget to change it very year. I normally add a few new deccies to my collection, which I have done this year. I'm still tossing up whether I might cook a gingerbread house or something similar. I think I might.

Well, what else have I been up to in the past few months? Apart from my regular job at the gallery, I have been working very hard designing and creating my scarf range. They've done really well and I feel very positive about the past year of selling them. I just took part in two recent design/craft markets and was overwhelmed by the response. I have already put in a new order with my printer and have a few plans to promote my label next year. It's exciting!

During the year I also created a mini collection of garments for the Art on Legs awards. They were also received very well and I have been invited to do the same this coming year. I've bought a bundle of new fabrics and have designs ready, so must get stuck into that asap.

We are all doing well. Molly's legs are still giving her trouble. The leg we had operated on and had stem cell therapy on has really done well, but unfortunately the other leg now needs treatment. That will have to happy as soon as we can afford it. She is doing ok though. We have been keeping her pretty quiet, so as to not damage it more. She is still as happy as usual.

Well, that's it for now. I will try to get back into this caper a bit. I hope you are all doing really well.

Take care xx Sar

Molly's Christmas video

Merry Christmas everyone!

It's terrible quality and has a bit of a slow start, but here is Molly unwrapping her pressies this morning....

Let's just say that her pressies didn't last long.

Have a safe and happy day!

Love to you all

xx

Christmas is almost here

The stockings are hung and Christmas is only 1 sleep away!

I thought I had better share my Christmas decorations with you :)

This year the mantelpiece has gone with a white, silver and red theme. I am really happy with it.

The tree took me almost a full day to set up. There are some pressies under it now, which finishes it off :)

More shots of the mantel... including our stockings, one for each of us.  

Molly's is empty as she sniffs it out and won't leave us alone.

A stunning hippeastrum decided to bloom on cue this year.

And Harry horse is also feeling festive.

I made a Christmas cupcake tree/painted stick scenario in the hallway. Neon pink and turquoise. A bit kooky but I am enjoying it.

My big glass dome has become a little Christmassy with the addition of candles, holly, mushrooms, pinecones and mossy greenery.

And the pressies are wrapped!

This year I went for neutral, white and hand painted neon and really like it.

So now is the time to wish you all a lovely Christmas. I hope it is everything you wish it to be.

Take care when driving, ok?

Hugs to you all xx

Molly update

Molly loves Christmas. Here she is checking out the gifts under the tree the other day. She checks them on a daily basis and if she gets extra excited, she has been known to do a little early unwrapping - just to help out the gift recipient of course!

She sniffed out her pressies which I had placed on the dining table, so they are now in a new, unreachable spot. I cannot put a pressie in her Christmas stocking until Christmas eve or we just never hear the end of it - she snaps at us, wanting to open it.

So how is her leg?

Well, I thought everything was going really well, up until Thursday. I took her back to the vet last Tuesday who removed the stitches, but did have to draw a heap of fluid out of the knee. Apparently its a common reaction to surgery.

The fluid built up again over the next couple of days and early Thursday morning it popped, leaking fluid everywhere. Nice. I had to wash a tonne of bedding.

So, now she has a hole in her leg where it popped. She had also started limping (very badly) on it again.

It has kept weeping so last night I took her back to the vet who has given her another course of antibiotics. The weeping could be a reaction to the synthetic material that was put in to hold the joints together. We will know when the wound had healed and when the antibiotics are finished. If her body is rejecting the material, it will swell up again. God I hope this is not the case.

Or, perhaps she has pulled the joint when outside for a wee and that's why she is limping. This is not good either as all our hard work will be down the toilet again.

Or, hopefully she is limping due to the hole in her leg causing her pain. (what a weird thing to say!)

I'm feeling really stressed about it and so frustrated after everything seemed to be going well.

Cross your fingers (and everything else) for us that it comes good, please.

xx

Bits and Bobs...Christmas

It has been such a long time since I have done a Bits and Bobs post - so here one is!

This theme is obviously Christmas decorations. I really enjoyed unpacking my deccies this year - I always seem to forget what I have and it's also nice to see my favourites again.

Above we have a new little felt hedgehog by Natasha from The Snow Queen's Garden, a couple of vintage style glass birds (the owl is new for this year - I love it), perspex by Dick and Dora, a red felt one made by me a few years ago, the spotty one which is actually a place name holder, a green bell, an old soldier from my parent's tree and the cupid which I brought back from the Tower of London in 1996 for Mum.

I'll be back with some more piccies of the tree and so on, as well as a Molly update.

Only 2 more days of work for me! So excited and really happy that I am actually organised! Unheard of for me, but that's great. I did want to write cards for a heap of people, but that just hasn't happened. I'm not going to worry and hope they/you don't either.

xx

Some more Christmas fun

Christmas seems like a long time ago now, doesn't it?

I am definitely in the swing of holiday mode now and feeling rather lazy despite a long "to do" list.

I wanted to share a few pics of my gingerbread house, created at the last minute in a massive rush.

This year it was mainly white and green. I even had edible glitter which added a nice sparkle.

I just can't help it.

Here's a few more photos of the furry girl.

I was a little late in the pic above, she had been snoozing with her head under the tree, on top of some pressies.

Boy, she loves pressies.

The pressie unwrapping aftermath...

All pooped from all the excitement.

Well, despite my state of laziness I might drag myself to the kitchen to make some raspberry jam...or not.

I've been doing a spot of sewing too. So far I've made a dodgy cover for a footrest, am in the middle of pillowcase making and have plans to make some new loungeroom cushions too.

My super tedious plans are to clean my car (inside and out) and clean out the pantry. I suspect the pantry might take a full day. Oh joy!

Hopefully you are all having a fairly relaxing festive period too :)

xx

Molly's Christmas on video

I wanted to share a small video of our funny Molly girl opening her Christmas pressies yesterday.

She had such a great time as you will see.

I hope you all had a great day. Ours ended up brilliantly with lots of family time. Just what I wished for.

Back soon with more pics :)

xx

Friday Flowers and a Merry Christmas

Aren't these beautiful hippeastrums so festive?

They always remind me of Christmas at mum and dads as my father grows the same variety and brings them inside at Christmas.

Lyndon's dad brought this one around for us to enjoy.

I wanted to wish you all a lovely Christmas. I hope it's everything you wish for.

Not long now and it will be 2012. Thank goodness. I haven't been a fan of 2011.

Anyway, thanks for dropping by. Take care

xx

Christmas creatures

Hello friends, meet my two latest creations, Mrs Snowman and Miss Reindeer.

I was inspired by a tutorial in a magazine gifted to me by Jane.  The tutorial was by talented creators The Indigo Twins.

Here is their Etsy store.

The reindeer idea came from a stuffed toy I saw in a shopping catalogue.

Don't they look at home in front of my little Molly's Maison lounge room diorama?

Some closeups... (they're supposed to look a bit rustic)

I was so thrilled to find their little block bases at the Salvos for $3 (for a box of them). Their legs are skewers and their bodies are made from polymer clay over an armature of scrunched foil, skewer and wire.

I think they're rather cute :)
Have a fab weekend!

xx

Solar meerkats and other crazy gift ideas

For some unknown reason, I was sent a shopping catalogue with the wackiest gift ideas I have ever seen. So, I had to share.

Some people can be so difficult to buy for, so these ideas might help, or at least give you a chuckle :)

Look at that image above. Who wouldn't love a Solar powered meerkat crystal ball light?

Or how about a dog chasing a cat chasing a bird up a tree ensemble?

Solar powered chickens anyone?

I had to laugh when I say this. I doubt it would keep my Molly contained for a moment.

This one is good for Tasmanians who don't get to enjoy seeing koalas climbing trees in their backyard.

What gets me is the fact that someone had to come up with these wacky ideas.

I don't quite understand the thought process that decides that a solar powered crystal ball needs some meerkats to make it just right.

Anyway, I hope I've helped with those 'hard to buy for' family members.

xx

My Christmas wishlist

I was tagged by Jennie from Posie Patchwork to create a Christmas wishlist.

Warning: this is going to be a bit boring!

Why boring? Well, I have to start by saying that we have been on the tightest budget imaginable this year. It's been interesting discovering that I can actually survive with very little retail therapy.

That's not to say that I don't wish for things.

So, my list...

*well, we all know I have been complaining that I haven't got an DSLR. Do you know what? I have been leaning towards the compact digital cameras pictured above. They have interchangeable, high quality lenses but none of the bulk. This needs more investigating me thinks.

* I would dearly love a new laptop, something that doesn't get so hot it's about to explode (I'm not using that one anymore).

* My silly wishlist item is a Cuisinart Icecream maker.

image from Cuisinart website

I have been obsessing over this for a while. Does anyone have one? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

image from Mulberry website

* I'd quite fancy a new handbag as I've been carrying my old Countrty Road one for quite a few years now. I like relaxed styles and rather like this one from Mulberry. Dream on Sarah...

* if I'm going to get really crazy I'd say I'd wish for a Parisian holiday. Enough said...

BUT, realistically, I really don't care. We never do big gift Christmases. I do love seeing Molly unwrap pressies (sometimes not even for her, but she likes to help other people) with such enthusiasm and my big joy will be getting the family together for a meal.

I invite you all to post about your Christmas wishlists, whatever they might be.
Have a happy week friends and also a very happy birthday today to my lovely little niece who turns 4 today.

xx

Christmas 1974

Little old me on Santa's knee, aged 3 years.

I'd have been quite happy with that ballon Santa will hand me, maybe with a lolly.

Look at those long socks. I wish litle kids were dressed that way these days :)

Wishing you all a safe, happy Christmas filled with joy and those that you love.

Best wishes xx

The Christmas tree

Finally, the tree :)

I acquired more deccys this year and still it looks a bit bare.

Some details...

^ How cute is this little guy?

Best wishes xx

Christmas decorations

It's getting a little late for these posts, but here are some piccys of decorations from around the house.

Harry Horse with a festive collar.

Table decoration...just silver, white and some pine cones..

...cute silver and white paper doileys...

Tree piccys to come :)

xx