tsk tsk

there were five green bottles....

I see the light. The light of relaxation and finishing of work, yes it is just around the corner. I am almost there and today really felt like the beginning of the end of the year. I had lunch here with a few friends and many happy children. Father Christmas even paid us a little visit, thanks to a very generous granny who loves popping on the red suit and white beard. There were Secret Santa pressies, champagne and table decorations to make the day extra special. Not a bad way to spend a Tuesday afternoon, even though now my house looks like a bomb has hit it. Thankfully Mr A is enjoying all the left over wrapping paper for collage time.

reindeer dust and good nights

thank you all who left lovely comments and suggestions re Miss M's sleeping endeavours. Last night we had a really long talk to both of them about what bed time means and reinforced the rules. I also offered stickers to the first child who did a bedtime task..ie. the first one to go to the loo, gets a sticker, first one to get their pjs on, gets a sticker. I'm sure there are some of you reading saying,"you shouldn't play them off like that, its not good for their egos" Bollocks. Life is competitive and they need to understand that you can't always win. So the first child to fall asleep would find a sticker left outside their bedroom door this morning.

They reacted so well to this. Mr A fell asleep first, no surprises there. And Miss M only took 25 minutes to settle down, and not once did she get out of her bed to ask for something. We were ecstatic. Except..... remember how I said everything backfires?

Well this morning at 1.15am she entered our room and announced 'mamma, I don't want any stickers.'
We will try again tonight with enthusiasm and live in hope.

meanwhile, it is Mr A's last day of kindy ever.  So Advent yesterday was making magic reindeer dust for kindy friends and teachers. Today, being the 11th day, they found some Christmas stickers to decorate presents.

To make your own reindeer dust. sprinkle some bird seed and glitter into a bag and follow the instructions.

magic reindeer dust
on christmas eve, sprinkle all over your lawn
the glitter will shine in the moonlight
and lead santa to your house before dawn.

humbug

today I had my hair chopped off; scored a really great carpark before completing some more Christmas shopping; finished some work; spoke to some clients about scheduling in their work; reviewed my new website (still under construction) and amongst many other everyday issues ate a red and green humbug from the advent calendar for entree tonight! why not! here is some more art popping out of my head. I've decided to make postcards this year for my own Christmas cards and have been really inspired to work more with paper and ink...well this week anyway.

bubble bath and faires

So I missed yesterday's post. I didn't get the time, but I'm posting in the morning now and I know that somewhere in the world it is still the 4th. Yesterday, the advent pockets held a, green, glittery bubble bath star and today because I am in need of much rest and work catch up the kids will receive a note telling them they can watch a Christmas movie. i suspect that Miss M is coming down sick now too so a quiet day is in order.

Below I have some illustrations that I made for a competition. I didn't win, but was pleased that I forced my self to illustrate something for a commercial output, because I haven't done this in months. Christmas faires was the theme, just in case you were wondering. Here are Finn, Fritz, Freya and Frith.

christmas habits

Well our tree and decorations are mostly up in the house and I am hoping that I will be able to finish the rest this week. Our first advent pocket was doing this task. On the second day there was a little gift of Christmas tattoos. I'll try and post more often (maybe everyday) this month so I can share all the advent adventures we are having. Last year I made these pockets and I put the list of all the days' activities and surprises we did in the same bag I packed them away in, so I wouldn't have to rethink of things to do. Another little Christmas habit I have is to place all the Christmas cards that we received last year into the same box as the decorations when we pack away. This way I won't forget anyone, well I hope.  I will let the kids use the old cards for craft this year.

One of the decorations we have made is this button tree. I first saw the idea here, and knew we had to try this. There are a few spaces that need filling, but i'm a little bored with pinning the suckers in.

Our Christmas day plans have also been changed at the last minute, and to cut a long story short, we will be on our own this year. Just the four of us. We haven't told the kids yet about the change, because I think they will be a little sad. I want to be able to do something on that day instead of just staying at home and feeling like any other day...except for the piles of wrapping paper on the floor and new toys. Well, maybe it is just me who doesn't really want to stay at home all day especially without any other family members able to be here. So I want to be able to tell them what we are going to do instead. Any suggestions? I'm thinking a really nice breakfast/brunch at a restaurant or a picnic somewhere. It is summer here so unless it is pouring with rain, a picnic could be good.

mini bunting

OK, this is a far more positive post. Simple and short too. I have decided to make some mini bunting this year for decorations. The Christmas fabric just hasn't appealed to me this year, so I opted for a Japanese alternative. I also have used a red felt. A fun and simple way to make something festive for your home. To help keep the triangles the same shape and size, I bought a triangular template made from perspex...super easy.

disjointed

so I thought I was on the mend..until I went to the physiotherapist. I've been having back pains for most of the year, and have just been ignoring them. living with it, soldiering on in the best way a mother knows how. "I'll go next week" I kept saying. Well I should have gone 40 weeks ago, because one of my ribs is dislocated. Oh its fun. 'Uppy uppy mamma" "spin me around mamma" "ring a ring a rosie mamma"  Sorry for the whinge, but as I STILL DON'T have my voice back completely, I've been restricted with letting my frustrations out in my normal way and there have been many a broken nights sleep in this house for the last 2 weeks.

What happened to my blog about about art and craft and illustration and design and aesthetics and all the visually pleasing things in life? Sometimes I think, I don't want a post about all the crappy stuff, but I can't help but tell it as it is.  I'm a straight up type of girl. Then there is that side of me as I re-read this that says, 'what are you complaining about? This really is nothing compared to what many people go through all their lives.'

On a lighter note....

We have made a start on some Christmas decorations. I'm trying very hard this year to use up materials from my stash. And I am really pleased  to be having a lot of interest in my artwork which is getting me in a new creative frame of mind again.

OK, whinge post over. Sometimes you have got to let it out. Hope i didn't scare you away!

yep, more cards

I did these ages ago...months infact. I almost forgot all about them, until yesterday. Each card is a print of original collages comprised of old papers and  portions of a letter I kept from my Pa (other grandfather not the one below). Share a laugh. Share a treat. Share the joy. Share the magic.

They'll be in my Etsy shop ASAP. Now there is only one other card design I'll release for the holiday season this year. I'll keep you posted.

it has started

I've already had a few shops and people ask me if I am selling Christmas cards this year. I am, so I guess they might need them soon..like now! So I'm showing you a few of them. These will be available in the Etsy shop and I will be adding more soon.

back from the track

We are back. Christmas and birthdays all went well. Except it was so cold here for Christmas. Only 14 degees Celcius on Boxing Day. And of course I didn't pack the right kind of clothes. But we survived the winds, the excess food, and the crazy drivers on the road. Nice to be home. And within a space of 2 hours, I have the sewing machine out already.

Above are some shots from my mum's garden. A flame tree, a frangipani flower and a hibiscus.  The table on Christmas with way too much of everything. And little feet on a little "big boy's bike".