Advent Blog-along Day 24

So the journey is over for this year I managed 16 out of 24 posts which is a vast improvement from last years 6 posts.

Today I started a new christmas tradition of baking cookies for Santa which didn't turn out quite as planned due to the weather being so warm. I have got photos to add but will have to come back and add them at a later time.

Anyway Merry Christmas to all and a safe and Happy New Year

Advent Blog-along - Day 22

I am been a very very bad blogger, had a few personal things come up and I have not been feeling the best but all sorted now. I finally got time to upload the photos that I wanted to share with you all

This is the result from out christmas paper art session, and as you can see Bastian had a ball

and the finished paper in action, so to speak

I also managed to get to two handmade items finished in time for the christmas party on Sunday

 

 

I actually finished stuffing the dolphin at about  midnight Saturday night and sewed up the last seam 1 hr before we had to leave.

Advent Blog-along - Day 16

I have decided lists are a good thing, that being that I actually got most of the things of today's list done all bar starting writing in christmas cards and start wrapping presents. So both of those as well as some appointments scheduled for tomorrow are on my list for tomorrow.

I actually got some christmas sewing done today but it is late and time for bed was along time ago so I shall have to leave it there and promise a more exciting post with pictures for you all tomorrow. That is if there is anyone still out there, if I have not bored to peices :)

Advent Blog-along - Day 15

Today started out with lots of plans, of which none got done :(

But the good news is that tomorrow is a new day so here is my to-do list for tomorrow

Choose pictures for Christmas cards and print out - done
Start writing Christmas cards  done
Make Wrapping paper with DS done
Start at least on of the 2 presents needed for Sunday all done and gifted
Start wrapping presents done
Try to do at least 2 hrs work, done

Well tomorrow is going to be a hot one so I had better get this little black duck off to bed and make sure I get up nice and early to go through my list. Hopefully tomorrows post will have some progress pics of our efforts

Advent Blog-along - Day 14

A few people have joined in on this

so I figured I should as well, not sure if I made the cut off in time or if it even open to international players but it is a bit of fun.

My chosen words are

1. Advent
2. Angel
3. Candle
4. Carols
5. Chocolate
6. Christmas Eve
7. Figgy Pudding
8. Frosty the Snowman
9. Mistletoe
10. Ornaments
11. Plum Pudding
12. Presents
13. Quilts
14. Rudolph
15. Silver Bells
16. Sleigh Bells
17. Sparkle
18. Sugar Plums
19. Table Runners
20. Tinsel
21. Traditions
22. Tree
23. Turkey
24. White Christmas
25. Winter Wonderland

Thought I would post them here so I can come back and mark them off when they are drawn out. Wish me luck

Advent Blog-along - Day 13

Yes you did read correctly. I have missed Day 11 & 12, my excuse is pretty lame as well. Friday I was working all day as I hadn't done much earlier in the week due to Wiggles concert and Christmas tree decorating, I did have grand plans to make up for it yesterday but while I was making a fruit salad for dinner at friends place I had a mishap with a vegetable peeler that result in a fair amount of pain and blood so now I am having to type with limited fingers.

Tonight Andrew, Bastian and I went to our local Carols by Candlelight, we were lucky in that Bastian has a long long (4-5hrs) sleep during the day so he was in a fantastic mood even though he has just gone to bed now. Anyway being at the Carols got me thinking one of the reasons I love Christmas so much is it is a chance to remember years gone by and things you use to do as a child I can now do with my child, or even start new traditions. Also if it has been a crap year (eg as 2008 was for me) it is a celebration of the end of that year and a start of new one, in fact my father pointed out to me what I had written on my christmas card to them last year "Thank you for all your help and support this year and lets all hope for next year to be very uneventful"

I have to admit compared to 2008, 2009 has been a dream and very uneventful. 2010 will be a challenge but I believe in a good way.

So why do you love Christmas, assuming you do?

Advent Blog-along - Day 10

Introducing my next WIP, expected to be completed for cuddles and kisses mid April

Do I need to say more?

Advent Blog-along Day 9

Oops I am a day late with this one Telstra has been giving me grief with my ADSL connection so didn't get a chance yesterday.

What did I do yesterday well you will have to pop over here to see. That is all I can say about that for now more pics to come at a later date.

I promise to have something more exciting for todays propert post, a sneek peek of a different kind.

Advent Blog-along - Day 8

Today I was able to open the parcel I received from my EB Newbie Quilters SS.

I got a lovely assortment of goodies

There was chocolates, a panel to make a soft book, some lovely blue material with trucks on it, some white baby print material and christmas tree ornament, and a beautifully made little purse that contained quilting pins, thread, chalk and soap. I already have some projects in mind for some of the peices.

Also today we went and got our christmas tree from the local christmas tree farm, I am being brave and putting out all my breakable christmas decorations as well, just need to teach Bastian to not touch or be gentle. Will see how we go

Advent Blog-along - Day 7

As mention in previous post today we went and saw...


The Wiggles



and there friends

We also went to Santaland at Myer in the city and Bastian got to ride a train


Do you think he enjoyed?



And finally this image is for a friends little girl who I happen to know has a soft spot for a certain dinosaur and will be going see her herself very soon

Advent Blog-along - Day 6

Today we tagged along to a Christmas party with my parents, there boat club one. Bastian was the only child there but he had fun, I can't believe how sure of himself my little boy is. No shyness from this one at all. Santa came with a special little gift for him and he was happy to even have a semi cuddle with him, as long as mummy was holding him at the same time. So that is a improvement from last week.

Tomorrow is a big day, up at 6 to head into the city to see

I hope he enjoys it as much as he did last time, then we are going to have a look at these, visit this and maybe even have a train ride this year (was too little last year) and have a look at display here.

It is going to be a busy day so Mummy better head on and get some rest.

(This post was done last night but I realised this morning that I had forgotten to hit publish)

Advent Blog-along - Day 5

Oops almost missed this one it is 11:45 pm and I should be in bed.

The concert went well except we were really late getting there so Bastian only got to do 2 of his three songs. I had major Mummy guilt's for the rest of the day before realising that he is 2 he is not going to remember in 20 years that Mummy got him to his concert late.

The quilt shop party was good, there are some lovely projects for next year however I was a very good girl and did not sign for any year long ones due to my own little "project" which is due to be finished baking Mid April :)

Tomorrow, or almost today we are off to my parents yacht clubs Christmas party (only going as kids get a present from Santa) and then hopefully a quite afternoon sewing, have not made any more progress on Day 1 list, except to delete some items and add some new.

I promise to try and make tomorrow post more interesting and Christmassy (is that even a word)

Advent Blog-along - Day 4

Only a short one today as today was our semi rest day in a week of craziness. We have Mini Maestro concert and LQS Christmas party tomorrow, a family Christmas party on Sunday and then Wiggles concert and in to the see the Myer Windows, Crown Christmas display and look at the Santa things at DJ and Myers on Monday.

Today was meant to be a full rest day but had to drive Andrew to the train station as his car is in being fixed, final rehersal for tomorrow Mini Maestro concert (still praying that Bastian does not get stage fright, but I think he will) and then a trip to the hairdresser for both Bastian and Mummy.

No sewing at all today but did spend some time dreaming about how I will use the Jelly Roll of Odyssea that I recently put on layby at my LQS

Oh and I finished uploading all Mum's Christmas CD on to I-Tunes so I have plenty of Christmas music to listen while I work at the moment

Tonight there was only two books

Mummy was a bit naughty and hid the "That's not my" books as I didn't want to read them again tonight, maybe next week

Hopefully tomorrow I will have some pictures (and maybe even a small video) from the concert

Advent Blog-along - Day 3

Every year my LQS puts on a Christmas Workshop as a thank you to their loyal customers that attend weekly classes or monthly clubs during the year. I have been lucky enough to be invited to 3 of them over the last 4 years (the year Bastian was born I did not attend enough classes to be included) This years one was today and we got to make a journal to hold some quilting bits and pieces and a notepad. We are provided with the main material necessary and given a list of other items required.

Here is a picture of the front of the journal

The inside, and

the back.

Sorry about the picture quality I ran out of time to take them in daylight will retake them tomorrow and repost

I have to admit I was very proud of myself today as not only did I manage to get the project completed on the day (something that has never happened before) but I was the second one finished, an hr before the classes ended.

Anyway it is just quick post tonight as it is late, but before I go I suppose I should let you know about tonight bedtime reading

 

This was what was chosen by Mummy to read to Bastian tonight

but of course he wanted That's not my Santa and That's not my Reindeer(again), so we compromised. He danced and played in his room while Mummy read her pick and he sat on my knee and we cuddled while we read his two. Mem Fox would be proud three books tonight :)

Advent Blog-along - Day 2

What did the second day of December bring us, well it was a lovely warm day spent shopping at a local street market with Bastian and my parents. I was finally able to find two of my favourite Christmas Books that I had been hunting for everywhere

as well as bought a new tin Christmas train to fill with sweets for the table

We read the The Christmas Book tonight, and the two "That's not my" Christmas books must of been a hit as they were requested as well.

As for sewing, well my to-do list most of worked as I got my Secret Santa item finished last night and put the rest together today, so that is one item down and also made a start finishing my last Round Robin Blocks, they have to be finished over the weekend.

Tomorrow I have a workshop at my local quilt shop which they put on for there regular customers as a thank you for there patronage during the year. They provide about 50% of the material and the class for free you just buy the rest of the material and arrange your own lunch, we are doing a journal this year so hopefully I will have photos to share tomorrow.

Advent Blog-along - Day 1

As it is now December, I was excited to read Bastian the first of main Christmas theme books over the next couple of weeks, tonight before bed we had three

Tomorrow I am planning to go to one of my favourite local bookshops so I am sure there will be many more Christmas books to read after then (not that we don't have heaps already :) )

I thought I should start this off with a list of projects that I have to get finished between now and not only Christmas by when the baby comes in April

Finish Secret Santa item - over 50% done, need to assemble all together - Due today (opps),DONE
Finish remaining Round Robin blocks - Due this weekend
Presents for Bastian's Mini Maestro and swimming teachers - Not started - Due 11 & 14 Dec respectively decided to not do them due to time constraints

Make Crayon Roll and softie Dolphin as gifts -  DONE

Make Crayon Roll for Bastian to take Sailing - DONE
Make Lazy Day's Hat for me to take Sailing - Due 3 Jan, decided to not do one as my Mum has a hat I can borrow
Make Versatile Wrap for me at least one by sailing trip, have material for two, one done

Items to finish before the baby comes
Finish C Cot quilt - was meant to be a birth present C is now 8 months old (oops) quilt top done
Quilt C's Quilt

Make Bastian cuddle quilt
Make Bastian big boy bed quilt
Make Bunting for Bastian new room
Finish Cross Stitch ABC Sampler for baby's room - 80% complete
Make Dilly bag for LQS Christmas Challenge - due 17 April
Quilt for K's baby - due 27 April
Pram quilts for my baby and K's Baby with left over material, if have time - due 27 April

I think that will be plenty for me to do between now and then and I am sure that I will add some extra things along the way and of course I have DJ blocks to complete along they way as well as the binding for a quilt that was quilted back in May