All is calm.... well not quite!!!

gift sewing done, baking half done, house half cleaned.... tomorrow..... grocery shopping, finish cleaning house, finish baking, wrap pressies............. ALL IS CALM!!!!

oh my goodness, its been mad, last week had the Princess's best friend stay for a few nights, I took them out to see the Christmas lights, here they are posing in someone (stranger's) front garden!!!


I have been sewing up a storm, cool stuff, lots, I can't show you until after Christmas, can show you these bags I made for my nephews...... quick and funky. I gave them the Wordtoons book.....even the 16 year old was into it...... truly a great gift idea!!!! I wrapped the books in newspaper....... my 10 year old twin nephews thought that was hilarious!!!


Busy times, went to a party on Saturday night and caught up with a whole lot of people I haven't seen since the Princess's Christening, 6 years ago!!! Great night....

Sunday saw me on a road trip part way down our country with my sis in law to go to the FLEETWOOD MAC concert!!! OMG.... fabulous concert, fabulous night, fabulous road trip, lots of
laughing til you cry stuff!!!

Back to Auckland on Monday and full on into Christmas week!!!!

Two more sleeps..... hope all is calm in your home.......

take care... don't stress
Rachaelxo

12 Days of Christmas Craft Swap & my tree

Last year my grandmother and I (ok, she is really my Mum!), hosted a 12 Days of Christmas craft swap for mostly New Zealand crafters.

This year my Mum (who I like to annoy and call my grandmother!), single handedly as she would say, hosted it again. A big undertaking as there were two groups this year, 24 crafters in all.

I was in Group 2 and my present was drawn to be opened on the first day. Here is my wrapped parcel, one for me and one for 11 other ladies.

I wrapped it in vintage dressmaking paper, pink ribbon and a hand dyed vintage millinery flower.


I made fabric brooches from vintage linens doilies and millinery flowers that I had hand dyed. See previous post.

Once the brooches were finished they were tossed in the clothes dryer for 30mins to soften and curl the fabric. In time they will fray, giving them an even more interesting look.

Really pretty if I do say so myself!!!

and shameless promotion here, I am selling them so email me if you are interested!



GOOD NEWS!!!

The tree is up!

The Princess decorating it.


and at night with the lights on.....


and from the street..... pretty!


I only did one tree this year, not the usual three!

One more thing, my cartoon friend is selling Wordtoons in ebook form , see my sidebar. They are so much fun to do for children and adults alike and really amazingly priced. I have bought a book and all my nephews, the Princess and a few other family members will be getting a copy for Christmas.

Go on check it out.

That's it for now, lots of shameless promotion in this post!

Take Care
Rachaelxo

Dyeing and stuff

my latest lot of dyed doilies and linens, loving the colours.... I have made some thingies from this batch but can't show you yet, top secret stuff........



my lavender, I know I post every year about it, but truly each year it gets bigger and more spectacular looking.... hating to have to leave this bush behind!



harvested in my vintage enamel bowl, quite French looking don't you think??!!!



short and sweet post this time, a small miracle really, I always have so much to go on about!!!

anyway, am off to play with a power tool.... electric hedge trimmer.........

take care
Rachaelxo

p.s. Christmas is still much the same as my last post.... no that's not true, I got the tree and decorations out of the attic on Saturday..... they are still sitting up against the wall unopened......

Great Cartoon Gift Idea for Xmas and Stuff!

A friend of mine is a talented Cartoonist and has come up with the coolest and most fun Christmas gift idea, your family in Cartoon form!!!

What I really love about this, is you get your Cartoon within 2 to 3 days in digital form and then its yours to do what you like with....

*posters
*Christmas cards
*framed prints
*t-shirts
*coffee mugs
*mouse pads
*key rings
*tote bags

and all the other endless possiblities your local print shop will offer!!!

click HERE to find out more......


I have been really busy, remember a while ago I showed you this....


well its now this......


and this one.....


is now this....


both for sale HERE, along with my house if you want to buy it!!!


and GUESS WHAT!!!!

I got accepted to the University of Auckland and on 25 February 2010 I start my three degree in a Bachelor of Education!!!!

and GUESS WHAT else!!! I am so not prepared for Christmas, no decorations up, shopping done, cards sent, cooking done let alone even planned Christmas Day...... oh well heaps of time... isn't there!

Take Care
Rachaelxo