hello

It feels like an age has passed since I last frequented this space, sorry for the neglect but I have largely been sewing and crafting, albeit with a smattering of delightful interludes. Christmas crafting has involved spots, sticks, bags, pots, ink, tin and a plan of baking/pickling at the very last moment. True none of the aforementioned has actually been finished but the ideas are all there and have pretty much been started, kind of.
You see, I had to leave the Christmas crafting sitting forlornly in a corner as I whipped out the embroidered tablecloths for the markets, last weekend was the Artisans (which was amazing) and this weekend we have the Community markets and then with barely a sigh of relief I will then dig out the Christmas craftiness and get onto it. Well, that's the plan anyway. Unfortunately none of the making will appear online as quite frankly I need all I have for the markets, but next year will be a different story.
I do love to craft at Christmas, heck at anytime really, it just makes me so happy to create little things with intent, with love in my heart and an idea at the tip of my fingers. I focus on each person and send them lots of love as I make. I love this time of year for that reason, to purely bestow handmade goodness onto special ones and if my hand making doesn't quite cut it for everyone, I love supporting other peoples handmade goodness, especially friends and crafty folk around town, yippee.

It is true that I also love to partake in the relaxing, the eating, the reflecting and the time spent with those special ones I keep going on about. To celebrate with those dear to us and to give thanks to the beautiful lives that we share together (and to throw in extra squeezes to those dear ones who have helped us through the crap that life inevitably throws at us). Yes this time of the year can be a nightmare for people, yes it does lead people to consumerism, guilt, jealousy, greed family arguments, over eating, over drinking but it's all how you look at it and how you chose to celebrate, or not celebrate, as may be the case.
Not to go on but as we reflect and think of our luck, our family does like to think about those not as lucky, this obviously happens throughout the year but this time of the year it just seems even more important. Here are just a few special charities who would love some help around now and beautifully some donations even double as a sneaky gift (of which I am sure you are all well aware) such as Oxfam cards (if you do feel the need to consume at Christmas, pop into an Oxfam shop for some delightful fair trade treasures), Kiva (a great place to create wonderful opportunities in impoverished areas), The Redfern Foundation (helping Aboriginal people in Inner Sydney to build skills and strength to create a positive infrastructure within their community, promoting social, educational and employment equity) Australian Conservation Foundation (protecting our environment by creating and infighting change)  One Health Organisation (lobbying for a holistic approach to world wellness) , The Big Issue (providing jobs and independence to homeless people) or just look around for local not for profit  or even someone in your neighbourhood that might need some assistance (a meal cooked, children minded) there are so many people who would love, who need assistance in a plethora of ways. Do you have favourite things to do for others at this time of the year?

Here a few pictures of some happenings of late, despite the images to the contrary we have been quite low key, enjoying kids running around and playing, the relentless hum of the sewing machine and the delight that Scott has finished his big contract and is able to relax and have fun with us all. 

Celebrating beautiful Peppa's birthday; drumming in the garden; loving the wildness of our garden - going crazy after so much rain, hail and sun; celebrating a beautiful new friend's 30th with a delicious picnic by the river, marvelling at their handmade goodness and another crafty home on the property; welcoming the new members of our family, our beautiful bees and always delighting at our beautiful pixie Poe,who wore this on his last day of school for the year.