and so this is Christmas...

Thank you for another lovely year here on my blog - for turning up here, for being interested in what I write about, and for your thoughts and comments. You are the reason I keep showing up!

I'm never quite sure just how much of my personal story to blog about, but I feel now, at the close of the year, I'd like to share the reason I lost my blogging mojo way back in June, and why I've been floating in and out of here ever since.

It's easy to think bloggers lead a charmed existence where everything is picture perfect, but of course we're real people with real lives... not always styled for photography! In June my husband and I split up after being together over 20 years - since I was a teenager. So there's been a lot going on around here this year and for the last 6 months I've been adjusting to a new life and a new beginning.

Christmas is bound to bring both highs and lows, but I'm looking forward to opening my 2011 diary and a symbolic fresh start. Roxy is bursting with excitement about Christmas (only 2 more sleeps!) and her joy and enthusiasm is contagious. I am truly blessed to be the mother of my precious little girl and can't wait to wake up with her on Christmas morning... and every morning.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a bright and beautiful 2011. I hope your Christmas stockings and hearts are filled with love and happiness, and all you wish for.

As always I have lots of plans and ideas for next year and I'm determined to find the energy (and time management skills!) to make them a reality. How about you?

enjoy!
xx
Lisa
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In the spirit

A friend just sent me this link - love it!
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giveaway winners... a little later than I'd hoped!

Thanks to everyone for entering the giveaway. It's fabulous that so many of you are incorporating handmade into your festive preparations.

Congratulations Erin, Yvette, Kirsty (no blog) and Tiffany. Please email me your postal address and I'll get your kit out to you.

The kits are still available in my shop. It's not too late to start stitching!

Hope you've had a lovely weekend. See you soon.

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New Festive Craft Kit + a Giveaway

Wow, what a weekend! Today I was meant to be catching up on replying to emails and sorting out the house. Last week I managed to create a mess in almost every room with my market prep. And today I still have my car boot full of things that need unpacking and a house that needs tidying. I have folded and put away half my fabric stash that was piled on the dining table and I've done a few loads of washing and had a pretty lazy day really... bliss after the last few weeks.

This is one of the things I was working on last week: a new design that I had printed on fabric to make some Festive Craft Kits. I really enjoyed the change designing these birds and the heart in a single colour and in a very graphic style, and I love the result.

Each kit contains a printed fabric panel with 2 birds and a heart, and a piece of fabric (not my design) to use for the back of your fabric ornaments. They would look fabulous embroidered - I'm hoping to do some on the weekend. The kit can also be used to make pin cushions, lavender pillows, or for appliqué panels on an apron, quilt or Christmas stocking, etc. I'm going to give some to friends as part of their Christmas presents - they make great stocking fillers too.

The kits will be available tonight are available now in my shop for just $12. I have limited stock left over from the markets, so if you'd like to buy one go have a look in a few hours now.

Now for the giveaway part - I have 4 kits to give away. Just leave a comment on this post before the weekend and I'll draw the winners at random. If you've handmade anything for Christmas gifts this year please do tell.

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Mathilda's Market this weekend

Ah yes, that's right, I am doing back to back markets this weekend. On Saturday in Canberra (8 hour market + 2 hours bump in and 1 hour bump out + 6 hours round trip!), and on Sunday I'll be up early again for Mathilda's in Sydney. Luckily Mathilda's in only 10 minutes drive from home. Needless to say I'm grabbing every second I can this week scrambling get things made and ready.

If you haven't visited Mathilda's Market before and you have children in your life then you're missing out on a fabulous opportunity to buy beautiful handmade gifts from these talented people. Come by and say hi on Sunday... I'll be the one with matchsticks holding my eyes open, drinking copious amounts of green tea. Hope to see you there.

All images: Mathilda's Market.

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Handmade Canberra this weekend

Will you be in Canberra this weekend? I'll be there with lots of Ooshkas, Ooshka Boys, Sweetie Petites, pattern kits, hand printed Christmas cards and tags, and a few other new things, for the fabulous Handmade Market on Saturday from 11am - 7pm. See all the details here, and come by and say hello if you make it there. I'll be in a little room just off the main one. There are a few indoor areas as well as lots of stalls outside. It's worth a day trip from Sydney to check it out - there are lots of fabulous things to buy and good food too. Check out the list of stall holders.

All images via Handmade Market.

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