Sweet Fabric:
thanks

What a lovely "welcome back" I received. Thank you all for your keen support.

The big girl has some vile gastric thing. She's small & thin & really can't afford a couple of days off the tooth. I'm crossing everything that the rest of us don't fall like flies.

The mattress has been dragged downstairs, off the carpet & in front of the Teev. It's just the way things roll in our house. You get sick & you move to the family room...a hangover from when I was a kid. I think a mattress on the floor is much more comfy than the sweaty brown vinyl couch I enjoyed as a kid.

Buddy sleeps on his own dog bed...always. BUT a comfy bed on the floor was simply too much for him to resist & I thought he looked so gorgeous so I left him.

Hoping she's back to her normal self quick sticks as she has quite a lovely crafty plan.

hands - an ongoing project by me

I had planned a little TTFN post last Friday & then I kind of faded to black without warning...sorry.

It seems I've just slipped quietly into holiday mode...watching trash on the teev with my big girl.

It's been a big year & I'm looking forward to a bit of downtime. I'm going to take a bit of time off to really enjoy the break with the fam.

I might be back with a holiday something or I might not. I'm just going to let the summer of 2010/11 wash over me.

Thank you all for your very valuable contribution to this space during 2010. If you've read, commented, laughed or just nodded along...you're totally ace...it's why I keep showing up & hoping that maybe something in my sometimes-cheaty-sometimes-serious makings will make you want to make something too.

Have a safe & happy holiday...TTFN.

xoxo

Eeeek...look what arrived in the mail today!

When I was in Canberra we went to the Canberra Glassworks. Firstly just to have a look & then we went back the next day to DIY. It was an AMAZING experience.

Obviously there is MUCH hand holding ... it's a dangerous business.

It was just sensational to be part of it all in the Hot Shop.

Look at Nan shaping her paper weight. Pretty cool huh?

Nan gifted me this utterly gorgeous "Turf" paperweight. The collection just got a whole lot posher with the addition my own & the really truly artist one too.

I highly recommend the experience if you happen to be in Canberra.

A wonderful long weekend spent in Canberra with just the toppest people going around!

It was totally relaxed but full & exciting.

Nan & I had two of the best ever thrifting days in the history of thrifting! Nan's little vehicle was full to overflowing with amazing finds.

I need to sift through my little (plane friendly) treasures but they are all pic worthy so you'll be swamped soon enough with pea green goodies.

I'm off! For a whole weekend by myself!

Not quite to Paris ... but almost.

I will be staying with a really truly Frenchie & a not Frenchie & a couple of gorgeous halfies too. Yup...I'm off to the house of Rummage.

I was given this spectacular map by my gorgeous mate.

She went to a lot of trouble for me too...even taught herself a bit of stem stitch to over stitch the streets. It's wonderful.

Isn't it excellent?

Of course all our bathrooms are unisex so this little cross stitched bit o signage is just perfect.

Tarn made it for me! It does actually hang in the doorway of the powder room...just as intended. I love it & am absolutely chuffed that she took the time to make something just for me.

I've been thinking a lot lately about relationships & marriage. The Date & I are fast approaching our 15th wedding anniversary. I'm just ever so grateful really ... for all the things he is & for all the things he isn't. I'm mighty glad to be sharing my bathroom with him. x

Just look what I scored in the Downunder Doll Quilt Swap!

The swap was organised by Kate ... you can read all about how to register your interest for round two right here.

Thank you Nic ... for getting it so right! You're ace!

I had such a great day with Aunty Cookie and the Meet Me at Mikes guys yesterday. Finders Keepers was a fabulous day out. You can read about the day & see fabulous pictures of the stalls & the event over at The Design Files or Mikes.

Shaz gave me this lightly hot water bottle vase & it joins Kate's hand in the bathroom (ring is by Victoria Mason) .... I know you need three to make it a collection so shall buzz off to etsy now.

& a bit on finding & keeping friends too...

I'm endlessly amazed by the number of really truly gorgeous mates I've made because of this bit of online drivel. My goings on are hardly ever poignant, personal or even humourous. But something in the way I've presented myself has led me to a growing number of found & kept friends & for that I will be eternally grateful. xxx

This is a little something I made for a giggle & for you.

I'm hoping that I'll give Pickering (mine's safe for work folks - I promise) a run for his money & grace the back of toilet doors globally...nationally...locally...ok at least at Claire, Christie & Shazza's places because they encouraged me to take on this project in the first place.

I've been tinkering away on this for a couple of months...since you first got a laugh out of my noticing & beret shots. All crafty "disguises" have been fashioned by me, some especially for the project & some were just loitering about the house in various states of completion.

I dragged the little guy in to check out my "folio". He watched in horror as I flicked through the images & then we had this conversation...

Little guy: "Mum, this is terrible. Nobody is going to want this."
Me: "It's free buddy."
Little guy: "Even then Mum. Only your friends will look at it, because they'll feel sorry for you."

I'm confident that anyone who reads here regularly will enjoy the calendar & take it in the spirit in which it's intended. For any new-to-me folk who are saying to themselves "This girl's got a touch of the Warren Beattys about her." - well, there's something in there for you too. x

Get your free 2011 calendar here.

A very happy weekend to you all.

PS: Thanks Jod for the scribd assistance.

Recently The Cookie provided me with an op shopping/thrifting/side-of-the-road type brief.

I take a "if you happen to see" pretty seriously & sourced said item for her. The death of the people mover has impeded me a bit (but only a bit) ... if you're after a baby grand we might be in a bit of trouble.

Unfortunately The Date's much more about the golf clubs than the drill so it'll be up to me to hang it.

Did you know that I'm part of the Down Under Doll Quilt Swap? It was organised an embarrassingly long time ago by the gorgeous Kate.

In true kootoyoo style I've left it & left it & left it some more. Don't get me wrong...there's been plenty of think time & in my head the finished quilt is really, really beautiful. In reality I have one (yep 1) block pieced and another cut out. Not a fabulous start eh?

No more new anythings until this piece is finished so I'm going to share my in progress shots. If you catch me wandering off course do you reckon you'd prompt me with a comment like "Hey Kirst, haven't seen much on the white quilt front...what's up with that?".

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In other news...
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I've been included in Kidspots Top 50 Bloggers which is hugely flattering. Considering this is a "just for fun" gig for me & there are heaps of professional writer types included I'm quite chuffed. Thanks a bunch Kidspot.

There's the opportunity there to win a holiday to Dunk Island which is pretty cool so maybe check out the list, see if you're favourites are there. If so - click to vote.

I've got to say that I think that the craft blog community is pretty under represented on the list. So many beautiful, thoughtful, productive, positive, creative women I love who haven't been represented.

A big hearty thanks to those of you who have voted for me & saved me from left-on-the-shelf embarrassment. Muchly appreciated. x