Gifties & Going Away!

Well, you'll be incredibly surprised when I tell you it's another cold, blustery winter day here in Toowoomba - SIGH!! Very over it! Every time I step out the door, I feel like I'm being sucked into a giant vacuum and my hair gets tossed around so much that I end up looking like a dandelion! Not a good look!! Only 17 more days til Spring - sure hope someone's alerted Mother Nature to that fact so she turns off the cold and turns the warmth on at the right time!!! If only it worked like that!

Now, I haven't lifted a needle today, but I have been a busy little bee. I've been busy wrapping (no, not rapping, that would just be silly!!) and this is the result ...


Pretty silver sparkly paper and cute ribbon! I almost didn't want to give them away, but I was a good girl and toddled off to the post office, where I think I bought a few more shares in Australia Post and had my eardrums ruptured by a child attempting to break the sound barrier!!! Eeek!! So ... there will be some goodies landing in mail boxes in the next week or so and the best part is, some of them are late and some 'just because' so most of the recipients will be unsuspecting! Tee! Hee! Hee! Love sending surprise gifties!!

Then I hotfooted it back home to throw a few things in the port (bag/suitcase/holder of clothes to travel!!) because we're heading off to the beach for the weekend!! YAY!! I'd love to say we're going to thaw out and sun bake, but Mum and Dad have been there all week already and this nasty arctic wind is apparently whipping around there too. Still, it has to be at least a few degrees warmer than Toowoomba, I reckon!! So ...


The bags are packed ...


I've got my books all ready. Now you're probably wondering at the number ... well, I'm only going for a weekend, so I shouldn't need more than this! Tee! Hee! Hee! Oh, do you like my little tag book mark at the bottom corner? It's actually a gift tag, but it was just so pretty that I wanted to use it for a book mark. Hmmm ... what else do we need when travelling long distances (about 4 1/2 hours) ...


Can't go travelling without munchies!! Just ask Sharon at Red Geranium Cottage, she'll agree!! So, all we need now is for my beloved Geek Boy to be allowed to leave work. He was originally supposed to have today off so we could have a long weekend, but with one other person from the Multi-media Department off on holidays, his boss got all ... BOSSY! ... and said that as the Manager of the Department, GB has to be responsible and forfeit his day off. GRRRRRRR!! Not happy, Jan!!! So, we were then hoping he might be able to take an early mark, but he just sent a text to say 5pm finish it is. SIGH! Ah well, a late night drive is not unusual for us, I suppose!! And we will enjoy the time away, so ... I guess that's the go! I promise to take some photos to post when I get back.

So ... really, today has been all about packing and getting ready to go away, though I did have time for a chat-via-email with my bloggy buddy, Lilly Linda. We're cooking up a little something for later in the year which will be very exciting ... but it's all secret squirrel for now while we work out some details, so stay tuned!! Oh, and you really need to visit the Lilly Cottage blog to see photos of the adorable new addition to the Lilly family!!! And whatever you're up to this weekend, I hope you enjoy some time with family and friends - I know we will!! Til next time - Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

The Dog Sat On The Tuckerbox!

OK, overseas visitors be warned - Australia cultural reference that you may not understand!! Actually, it's pretty self-explanatory, it just makes a bit more sense to people who are a little familiar with some Australia bush ballads/folk music. You see, there's a song that has a lead-in to the chorus that goes, "...And the dog sat on the tuckerbox, 10 miles from Gundagai." So, why the sudden urge to share Australian bush ballads? Take a peek at the sight that met me when I left my office to come home today after work ...

Now I know it's really a tool box she's sitting on, but you can see why it made me think of that dog on the tuckerbox!! Her name is Tessa and she belongs to Tony, one of my workmates. And she wasn't just sitting on the 'tuckerbox' so she could become a symbol of iconic Australian cultural music, (I don't think?!?!) you see, it was a cold, overcast day (yet again!) today on the Darling Downs and this tool box had been sitting outside long enough to soak up the few rays of sun that managed to creep through the clouds - so it was WARM!! Smart puppy!! You can see why Border Collies are considered one of the smartest dog breeds in the world - although how our not-too-bright Border Collie, Wombat, fits into that category I'm not too sure!!!

And speaking of Wombat ... I have a couple more photos to show you.


Isn't this the most MISERABLE thing you've ever seen??? Anyone would think he was being executed, not bathed!! And can you see how FILTHY he is?!?! What a grot!! And here he is a little later in the long process. (combine a long, thick fur coat with a propensity to roll in anything filthy and an unwillingness to sit still to have said filthiness removed ... you can imagine why it is a LOOOOOONG process to bath him!!)


Here's my beloved Geek Boy wondering why I'm taking photos and Wombat plotting a quick get-away!! It took GB almost as long to clean up the bathroom (we don't have a laundry tub that's accessible or big enough to get Wombat into and it was too cold to stand him outside - apparently!!!) after the dog bathing as it did to bath the two of them (Lilly was actually pretty low-fuss and went first!) and when he'd finished, GB reckoned he's collected enough dog hair from the plughole, walls, floors, every flat surface (and a few bumpy ones!) in the bathroom, to make another dog! However, both dogs were clean and shiny, though a little fluffy from the hairdryer (don't look at me, I stayed out of it!!!) and they smelled much better than usual - for at least half an hour before they found something decomposing to roll in!!! SIGH!! Who needs kids!!!

And where was I while the dog-wrangling was taking place? I was smart! I was curled up in front of the heater in the lounge room stitching away, working on the bag I'm making for my swap partner in Linda's Bag/Bucket swap. Now, although I can't show your everything, cos it's a surprise, here's a sneaky peek ...


Ooooh! There's a bear in there ... and a chair as well ... there are - oops!! Sorry!! Another Australian pop-culture reference!! Tee! Hee! Hee! Here's another sneaky peek ...


Hmmm ... shabby chic fabrics, pretty cotton lace, rusty bells ... These are some pretties that may (or may not?!?!) be included in the making of the surprise bag. Even if they don't get used ... they're pretty, aren't they! Tee! Hee! Hee! And you'll notice I'm using my birthday box to show them off. So, for more sneaky peeks, watch this space!

And whilst on the subject of swaps ... the Stitchers' Angel craft feature will get underway on Monday August 18, so make sure you click on the button in the sidebar to visit - it will be worth your while! Helen has gathered some of Australia's cleverest craft designers together (Helen herself, Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches, May Britt from Norway, Karen Gass of Cotton Spice, Lynette Anderson, Tracy of Plumcute Designs, and Sue Daley of Patchwork with Busy Fingers ) and they will be offering free patterns through her web site for the next seven weeks. While some of us have also signed up for the swap part of the Stitchers' Angels, everyone is welcome to visit Helen's blog and download the free patterns. They will all be for projects relating to stitching, so will be perfect for Christmas or birthday gifties, so make sure you take a peek - and give Helen a Bear Hug from me!!

Oh! And speaking of "Must Visit" blogs, make sure you pop over to Rosalie Quinlan's blog, she's having a giveaway of patterns for her FABULOUS new Christmas pattern - it's Christmasy, has red and white dots and stitcheries, so I just HAVE to win it, or I'll be adding yet another 'something' to my "Must Have" list!!!

So, I'm off to play with some fabric to see what I can come up with for my swap bag - right after I toast myself in front of the heater for a few minutes to thaw out!!! Brrrrrr!!! Arctic winds blowing again today and I can't feel my nose or toes at the moment!!! Hope you're cozy, warm and enjoying some stitching! Til next time - Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

All Aboard!!

After a little break from stitching, I'm back into it! I finished the stitching for the latest block of Lynette Anderson's Noah's Ark BOM (see cute ark button/link in sidebar!!) and this morning I braved the sewing ice-box and put the borders on. Drum roll please ... I'm pleased to introduce Mr and Mrs G. Raff ...


Ta da!! (Sorry the photo is a bit fuzzy - the other one I took came out too dark.) Now, you know I couldn't resist adding my own little flourishes to an already cute block so ... I gave Mr Raff a stripey neck tie and Mrs Raff a very fashionable dotty scarf and a pretty red flower behind her ear. And because I'm really lousy at satin stitch unless it's a bear's nose, I did the outline of the giraffes' blotches in backstitch then filled them in with French knots - which made for a LOT of French knots!!! But, I'm pleased with how it's come up. Here is the "Noah's Ark story thus far ..." shot ...


Hmmm ... when I see that photo I suddenly realise I haven't been quite as slack this year as I thought I had been. What a nice discovery to make! Now if only I could cross a few more things off my "To Do" list!!! Ah well, baby steps!!!

The other photos I thought I'd show you today are in response to some posted by Jo Jo at Home Sweet Home. If you haven't met Jo Jo yet, pop over to her blog for a visit - it's well worth while, with lots of fun photos and some groovy layout elements (I looooove her banner!!) - share some Bear Hugs with her and tell her I said "Hi!" Now, where was I ??? I yes, Jo Jo posted some photos of a GORGEOUS antique pram she had discovered on a recent shopping adventure and after confessing my "pram envy", I told her I have a vintage rocking cradle full of bears in the spare room. She said she'd love to see photos ... so ... here we go! Now, these may all look a bit alike, but I couldn't decide which one showed the cradle off best, so thought I'd pop them all on and you can decide. And I'm not quite as advanced as Jo Jo, Chookyblue and Stina with my photo layouts, so they're just one after the other. (Hmmm should suggest photo layouts to Chookyblue as a subject for one of her 'how to blog' tutorials!!)








I love this cradle for a number of reasons. The first is that I just love vintage cots, cradles, prams, trikes etc. The second is that, despite being a 'non-collector', my Mum bought this for me for my birthday a few years ago. The third reason is the cradle's history. You see, a friend of Mum's bought the cradle at auction when the old Mundubbera hospital and lots of associated equipment, was being sold off to make way for the new health care facility. When none of her three daughters were interested in restoring the cradle, this lady sold it to Mum for my birthday present. This lady passed away suddenly a couple of years ago, so this is a nice link to her and her friendship with Mum. And it's also special, because my little bro was actually born in the old Mundubbera hospital building in 1973 and Mum said he slept in a cradle like this one - perhaps it was this very one!! Or not!! But you can see why it has a lot of semi-mental value for me. Plus, it's a really cool place for some of my bearbies to snooze the days away! Tee! Hee! Hee! So, there you go, Jo Jo - photos of one of my vintage cradles! There's a timber one in our bedroom, but it's yet to be restored, so I'll save that for some future date.

The other thing I did this morning (I was on a roll!!) was to make a start on the bag I need to make for Linda's Bag/Bucket Swap. Since it's a secret squirrel swap, all I can tell you is ... I traced a stitchery!!! Tee! Hee! Hee! So I'm now off to curl up in front of a DVD and stitch. No ... not the Olympic broadcast, a DVD! Granny Loz and I are starting the "Non-Olympic Watchers Anonymous" support group, for all those of us who are more worried about losing the viewing of some of our fave TV shows to the Olympic coverage! Tee! Hee! Hee! I know lots of you have been looking forward to this event, and don't get me wrong, I'm a patriotic Aussie who can "Oi, Oi, Oi!!" with the best of them ... I just don't enjoy the way the coverage is done. Plus, I have to confess I'd rather watch a good 'whodunnit' than a sporting event!! But, I hope those of you who are Olympic fans enjoy yourselves - just don't stay up too late watching, or you'll be too tired to stitch!!

OK, really going to stitch now!! Have a fantasmagorical weekend, no matter what you're up to! Til next time - Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

The Best Intentions ...!

Today, I was going to stitch. I was going to knit. I was going to start working on my bag for Linda's Bag/Bucket Swap. I was going to write the now-overdue Tag Along Teddies web site news letter. And then ...



Uh oh! There go all my good intentions, cos the latest "Homespun" mag appeared in my mailbox and just had too many goodies to ignore! There's a gorgeous bag by Leanne Beasley, a cool lamp shade by Lynette Anderson ... need I say more?!?! All of my good intentions went out the window and I curled up for a little read. Then had to run some errands, and now I have a few minutes at home before ducking out again - oh I do lead such a busy social life!!!! Tee! Hee! Hee! I wish!!

Actually, I've been in non-stitching mode for a few days with neck pain-related headaches kicking in whenever I try to stitch - probably because I have appalling posture and look like the Hunchback of Notre` Dame when I'm concentrating on stitching!!! Last night saw me pick up needle and thread for the first time in about a week, as I braved the ice-box that is my sewing room to trace of Lynette's latest Noah's Ark BOM block and I started stitching ol' Noah's robe as I sat watching "Criminal Minds". At the end of an hour, we'd caught the serial killer and Noah had a robe of blue! Will stitch again tonight whilst helping Bones and Booth solve THEIR latest murder - Elementary, my dear Watson!! :0)

Right now, though, time has ticked away and I have to flit off and run some more errands. Hope you're all keeping warm and busy - unless, like me, the postie left you the latest issue of "Homespun", in which case, I'll sneak off now and stop disturbing your reading!! Til next time - Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Warm Toes, Warm Tummy & Warm Heart!!

No, no, I haven't frozen on the spot!! In fact, I was feeling rather warm over the weekend - which you may have guessed from the title! Now you've all read my moaning and groaning about the horrible cold and how much I hate being cold. Well, I think God got tired of me complaining and gave me a glimpse of what's waiting if I can hold out through winter for spring! After some particularly bitterly cold days earlier in the week, Friday dawned clear and WARM!! Yes!! The temperature climbed all the way to 25 degrees - I was a happy camper indeed! I had so much more energy than I've had for weeks - I think the blood could thaw out and circulate more efficiently! I even cleaned the bathroom, a job I put off at the best of times, but especially when the cold temperatures make playing in water even more unattractive than usual!!

Now, I didn't think I could feel any cheerier as I enjoyed my warm spring day in August, but then ... my postie passed by and left this ...


A care package from my blogging buddy, Kerryanne! Oooooohhhh! What a SWEETIE!! I wonder what's inside??


Ooooohhh! Lots of goodies!!! How spoilt am I!! First, there was my very own SIGNED copy of Kerryanne's wonderful book, "Shabby Doodles". A few posts back, I showed a photo of some little canvasses that I bought to have a go at painting some of Kerryanne's yummy cupcakes on, but commented that I just had to get around to buying the book - and now the wonderful Kerryanne has sent me my very own copy!! I've already spent lots of time leafing through pages, making mental notes of what designs I can have a try at painting. I'm a bit painting impaired, so may have to get some emailed tips from Kerryanne!! What else do we have here ...


A Winter Warmer Care Package!!! Oooohhhh!! Hot chocolate sachets, mini-marshmallows and a Cherry Ripe - YUMMO!! MMMMMMMMMM!! Warm tummy, now! DEFINITELY one of the yummiest ways to warm up for winter! And of course, there was the cutest card ...


This little bear is such a CUTIE!! Thank you Kerryanne!! Not only did your wonderful care package warm my tummy, it also warmed my heart!!! Isn't if wonderful to be reminded that you have fabulous friends - even if you've never met them face-to-face! (Though we are working on fixing that!!)

Then, Friday night saw my beloved Geek Boy venture off on a manly fishing excursion. So ... what's a girl to do?!? She invites a friend over for a girly sleep-over weekend!!! My dancing buddy, Deb was a free agent for the weekend, so came over to play. And what did we get up to? Besides the obligatory shopping excursion, (I was mostly good, only bought a couple of books and some new earrings!!) we ... well, they say a picture paints a thousand words, take a peek at the summary of our weekend ...


Tee! Hee! Hee! We enjoyed a "Dr Who-athon", complete with chocolate and chippies!! Add to that lots of cuppas (I had some yummy hot chocolate sachets, after all!!!) and chatting until the early hours of the morning and you're getting the picture of how we spent our relaxing weekend!! So by Sunday afternoon when Deb went home to get ready for a new week, we were both feeling very relaxed and mellow. GB, on the other hand came home weary after the cold woke him up at 5am (there are reasons I don't go camping!!) and without catching ONE fish! You see, it's been so cold that there have been mass deaths amongst the more delicate fish species at the dam they travelled to and the fish left alive, were staying deep where the water was warmer! I have to say, GB wasn't too worried about not catching anything - he enjoyed laying in the sun and catching up on his Nanna-naps, he said!! Fishing is usually just a way to stop me nagging him about sitting doing nothing!!! Hmmm, I'll remember that!!! All in all, a lovely weekend was had by all and sundry.

Now I know I've been complaining about my "To Do" list growing, but I couldn't resist adding to it on the weekend when I signed up for Chookyblue's Secret Santa Christmas Swap. If you're wanting to join the fun, you'd better be quick, cos poor Chookyblue has been inundated with sign-ups and she'll be closing off soon! I'll be adding the logo to my sidebar in the next day or so.

And speaking of logos on my sidebar ... it's time to click on Lynette Anderson's Noah's Ark BOM logo in my sidebar, as she's added the latest block for downloading. This month's critters are ... Mr and Mrs Giraffe! Hmmm, they'd probably enjoy the scarves I've been knitting!! Tee! Hee! Hee! I've printed off my copy of Lynette's latest fun block design, just have to get brave enough to go into the sewing room to do the prep work so I can stitch in the warmth of the lounge room ... Maybe tomorrow! After I have a hot chocolate to fortify me against the cold that came back with a vengeance after the weekend!!

Whatever you're up to, whatever you're stitching, stay warm and I'll be back on the same Bat-channel for the next episode of my continuing adventures! Til then - Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS