{I'm back} and I'm busy . . .

So once again its been a while between blog posts but I am determined this time to continue on with blogging about all sorts of things - not much business wise as I've decided to take a small break from my business for a month or two or three to concentrate on everything else that has been happening in our lives and what is still to come over the coming months.

Since my last blog post my 3 little people have all celebrated birthday's and now they are 7, 5 and 3 - how time is flying!!!

We have also made a huge decision to move back into town - buying a block that will put us inner city living. It will fantastic not having to drive into town sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. We will be able to walk everywhere now - just a few hundred metres from school, a short walk to kinder and the town centre not even 15 minutes walk away.

Just under 800m2 and a odd shape with all sorts of easements around it, has made it tricky to find a house plan big enough to accommodate a family of 5, but we finally found a builder and plan which we have modified slightly to suit us. Once bonus is that it is in a quiet court overlooking a park, so what we will loose in backyard space, we will have little traffic coming in and a beautiful park to play and picnic in. And we are definitely putting in a pool with the build - so we are excited!

roughly how the front/back of house will look

rough guide of how the ground floor will be (still waiting on the official plans).

upstairs will be 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a huge retreat area for the kids.

As far as business goes, I am still doing a little creating - but mostly just for me for once. I've decided to put the business on hold to create time for the more important things in life right now - which is my family and everything we have going on.

I've also decided to go back to University this year and am studying to be a Librarian through online learning part time. My plan is to have my qualifications completed to Diploma level by the time Mister 3 starts school (most likely sooner) and then find some part-time employment in a library as a library technician, while I continue on with my Bachelor degree qualification to a fully qualified Librarian. I'm enjoying studying and getting my brain working again on something different.

So stay tuned for more regular blog posts about all sorts of things; my family, building our new home, what crafty things I am making, tutorials I am happy to share about how to create small craft projects, recipes (as I've just purchased myself a thermomix this week and can't wait for it to arrive!) and anything else that takes my fancy.

Thanks for reading x

{photo a day challenge} Day #12 - close up

My littlest man Master N - who isn't all that little! At 21 months, he is rapidly gaining on Master T and Miss M and already in Size 3's. Slow down beautiful bubba x

Collaborate for a Cause . . . raising money for the RFDS

For those who haven't heard about Collaborate for a Cause yet, please pop on over to the Facebook page and become a fan and spend some time going through the auction album. So many amazing handmadies have come together and collaborated to produce some amazing items up for auction.

I have collaborated together with Pink Apple and 4 Little Babushkas to bring to the auction this item below. A one of a kind ruffle front dress (prehaps something new for the summer collection) with matching accessories by Pink Apple & 4 Little Babushkas. We are donating our winning bid to the Royal Flying Doctors Service - a charity that is close to my heart.

Hubby and I come from a mining background. We met in Kalgoorlie, WA when we were both working in the mines, myself as a heavy machine operator - trucks, graders, loaders & water tankers - yes little old me was driving those massive machines, and hubby was a heavy duty diesel mechanic. As fate would have it we both drove into town on the same day - me from Victoria and him from Tasmania and ended up booking into the same caravan park, right across from each other! Friendships were formed and love blossomed. A few years later we made the move back to my home town, me pregnant with Tom : )

Hubby continued working in the mines, driving in and out from a site north of home in outback NSW. One horrible day that still sticks me everytime I visit my hairdresser bought our world crashing to a halt. When Tom was just 4 months old, and hubby was working away, I took a much needed visit to the hairdresser while my mum looked after little Tom. I received a phone call right towards the end of my appointment from hubby's boss to say there had been an accident on site and that they were waiting for the flying doctor to arrive to assess the injury. I was numb. No-one could tell me what was happening, how bad the injury was, or whether they were planning to fly him to Adelaide, Melbourne or Sydney. So we waited.

Two hours later, with the car packed and Tom and my mum with me we headed to Adelaide and arrived late in the night, with hubby already in surgery and nothing we could do but wait until morning.

Walking in the hospital ward and seeing him still haunts me. So many doctors I couldn't count them all on my fingers. Hubby suffered a severe crush injury - it turns out 3 tonne of heavy machinery doesn't agree with landing on the human body.

Thankfully hubby's injuries were something he can live with and we will always be grateful for the RFDS for saving his life x

So please, pop on over the auction album and if you can, show your support for this cause. There are so many amazing charities that could all do with the support x

Photo of the Week #10

my tiny dancer

{GRATEFUL} for sleeping babies

Today I am grateful for sleeping babies. In fact, not just today but for the past 5 years! Yes, I have been blessed with 3 happy sleeping babies, much to the disgust of some mothers - my apologies. I don't know what the secret is. They all have their own sleeping styles, upside down, back-to-front, inside out - anywhere on or in the bed they like to snuggle with their favourite blankets or toys. For me it has meant being able to work from home with my 3 little helpers with me each day and for that I am truly grateful being here to share each and every day with them as they grow.

For more grateful blog posts, pop on over here : )

{FAMILY} Photo session . . .

Last month we invited Angela of Little Fingers Photography out to our home to do a family photo session on a Sunday afternoon. Angela has done some fabulous photography for my tillytom label, so after 3 failed attempts due to bad weather and flooding at home, we finally got some fabulous weather, 3 mostly happy children and a puppy dog that just didn't want to miss out on the fun ; )

And we couldn't be more pleased with the results! So many precious photos to cherish of our little family, these are just a few favourites.

Photo a Week #6

10 months

Here's to a better week . . .

Basically this past week has been crap. I started the week at the doctors - a chest infection and asthma had me in my pj's for the entire week and I owe my mum big time for all the help she gave me over the last week, as hubby has been away with his work.

And we ended the week with record rain fall - here at home we had over 235mm in a 24 hour period! Over 200 homes in our area have been flooded, small communities cut off from town including our own little haven out of town.

Our street was flooded in two places, with us at the end of our court we weren't going anywhere.

And the water pouring down from the bush behind us had the water lipping at the back door with just a half inch to spare.

My highlight of the week was a gorgeous parcel from Posie from a win on her blog for the QLD flood auction raffle she was running. The book is fabulous and after reading through it I am slightly annoyed at myself for not getting back the paperwork in time to be included as I can see the 3 projects I had pencilled down haven't been shown in the book. Hopefully there is another one! And the fabrics Posie sent with the book, I am already thinking about turning into a fabulous throw quilt for the lounge in the theatre room.

So here's to a better week!

Photo a Week #3

there's a fairy in the house . . .

Turning 3

My gorgeous girl is 3 today. Where has the time gone, growing up so fast, she is a lover of books, butterflies and fairies, the colour pink and a girly girl who also loves to play trucks with her big brother and dotes over her little brother.

Just a few hours old

Those big blue eyes and never ending eyelashes

First steps at just 12 months old

Mummy's little model

Happy birthday gorgeous girl x

Back to blogging with a PAW

To get me back into blogging for 2011 and get me into using my lovely new camera hubby bought me a few months back I am begining 2011 with something new. I was going to try for a photo a day, but decided a photo a week might be better.

Down at the farm - Tasmania

So every Monday I will post a photo I have taken that week, something random - family, nature, craft who knows. Feel free to join in the fun if you are interested let me know, and I will work out how to do that mr linky thing and set it up for next week.

So each Monday stay tuned for 'PAW' (photo of the week).

Wordless Wednesday . . .

more here : )

Blogtoberfest Day #25 ~ At My House

Lego building had been happening at our house this morning. It really does amaze me how creative my 4 year old little man can be.

Why not pop on over to Lou's blog and join in the fun : )

Blogtoberfest Day #21 ~ Where have I been?

Giving this little bloke lots of cuddles.

It seems he has developed a serious case of seperation anxiety and can't go a minute without mummy out of his sight, hmmm. Not much sewing had been happening, a few late nights and early mornings are beginning to happen now and I am slightly stressing about not being ready for Mathilda's Markets at the end of this month in Adelaide.

I am sure I have plenty of stock, I would just prefer to have too much stock than not quite enough ; ) I still have 3 quilt tops to put together, quilt and bind that I would love to get finished for the market, not to mentioned the 30 or so dresses in various stages; cut out, need overlocking, just need hemming, just need labels & elastic threaded that are patiently waiting to be finished.

Oh well, lets see how today goes . . .

Blogtoberfest Day #6 ~ Wordless Wednesday

More here : )

Blogtoberfest Day #3 ~ Out in the Garden

Spring is certainly here and we are spending lots of time out in the garden now.

Back to some craft posts this week - I need to make a start on my dolls quilt for the EB Dolls Quilts Swap 2010. I also have market stock to prepare for the upcoming Mathilda's Markets in Adelaide at the end of October.

For more Blogtoberfest fun head on over here : )

Blogtoberfest Day #1 ~ Distraction

I was busy sewing away at my machine while 3 little ones slept, only to be interupted by the littlest man who didn't seem to get mummy's memo about needing to finish off some sewing for tomorrow's market. He seems to have turned into a bit of a cap-napper during the day, but its pretty hard to be mad at this face. Luckily he is happy enough in his rocker while I continue to sew, but he is quite distracting with his cheeky big smiles!

For more Blogtoberfest fun head on over to visit tinniegirl's blog : )

Spring/Summer 2010/11 Collection - photoshoot . . .

Yesterday morning we had the photoshoot for some of my spring/summer 2010 pieces. 4 little models braved the very cool outdoor weather - with thankfully no rain! Here is just a peak at my little Miss M showing off just one of the new dresses, more photos to come next week. A very special thanks to our photographer Angela of little fingers photography. Take a look at her gorgeous work - we have booked ourselves in for a family session just before Christmas and I can't wait!

WIP Wednesday

Quilting is happening . . .

Quilting is done and ready to bind . . .

Fabric loveliness is arriving . . .

Market Prep is happening . . .

and this cheeky little man is distracting me with his dimples and smiles : )

5 Weeks

5 Weeks old already, the weeks are passing too quickly and the newest member of the family is settling in very well.

He is a good feeder, sleeps well, loves a cuddle and is already as big as Master T was at 9 Weeks.