What a year... and a happy new year to you!

I've been thinking today about what I have achieved in 2009. Here are a few things that are the most memorable and have made me the happiest.

I became a Mother to a beautiful baby boy, we named him Roman.

I traveled far (Hawaii, and less far Melbourne and Sydney)

I learned to crochet

I turned a quarter of a century old

I cooked my first Christmas lunch

I was in love with and loved by Blair

I started this blog

I hope you have had a wonderful 2009 and that your 2010 is even better!

Best wishes to you and your loved ones.

Bec xxx

Merry Christmas!

Christmas swap, originally uploaded by things to make and do.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas!

We had Christmas at home this year, very exciting seeing as it was The Boy's first one. It was also my first attempt at cooking Christmas lunch. Things went pretty well, until I discovered I cooked the duck up-side-down, oh dear, I suppose there's always next year!

My ornament swap parcel arrived, so wonderful! Above is a snap of one of the cuties sent by Kylie, thanks so much Kylie, it will be treasured!

I hope you all have a fabulous and safe holiday, love to you and yours xx

129 - Anemone

129 - Anemone, originally uploaded by things to make and do.

My first block of Let's make 7. I didn't do the last 2 rounds, it was getting huge!

Christmas paper pinecone

Christmas paper pinecone, originally uploaded by things to make and do.

I wanted to share with you the finished ornament I sent to my swap partner as part of the Christmas ornament swap. It's a vintage paper pinecone!

I've been busy making presents too. We went up to Burnie on the weekend, for an early Christmas gathering and to meet our newest niece (she is so lovely!). I made ladybird wings and cat tails for Miss I and Miss A's dress-up box. I think they were suitably impressed with their presents and I got to join in their game of "flying ladybird cats". We flew to Germany (ofcourse I had to take a plane because I didn't have any wings!)

Ladybug dress-ups, originally uploaded by things to make and do.

Let's make 7 ... holiday crochet along

As a fun holiday (holiday? what holiday!) project, I'm going to play along with Kate and Amy's crochet along, let's make 7. So, 7 crochet blocks from Jan Eaton's fabo book 200 crochet blocks by the end of January. As I'm really only a crochet beginner, reading the patterns might get a bit tricky, but I suppose it's a great way to extend myself, let my education begin! I'm starting with #129 - Anemone (which is a level 1).

Also, I told myself I couldn't buy any more wool till I used some up, it is in plague proportions!

There is also a flickr group here, cute stuff!

Rocking robin... tweetly tweet

robins, originally uploaded by things to make and do.

I got a bit side tracked with these beauties! You can find the pattern over here at Attic 24 (I'm so in love with this blog at the moment!) They are super cute and super quick to crochet!

Things to make... neat ripple blanket

neatripple, originally uploaded by things to make and do.

I've been mastering the art of the ripple blanket thanks to Attic24. Before I found her tutorial, I was floundering along with a Patons pattern, but I am one of those people who learn by seeing and the step by step has really helped me along. So, thank you Attic24, you are greatly appreciated!

It's for my cousin's baby, due in January. Requested colour:: butter yellow. Mmmm, butter makes everything more delicious!

My place & yours - five minutes peace

I'm a simple pleasures kind of gal and magazines are my 5 (or 30) minutes of peace. This morning I've been laying around reading the Donna Hay Christmas edition and dreaming about what to cook for Christmas lunch. I have a few magazines dotted about the house here and there, so if I have a few spare moments I can pick one up, have a smile and then move on with my day. There's even a few Gardening Australia in the necessary room (toilet)!

Thanks Pilgrim for this cute theme and Pip, the hostess with the mostest, more My place & yours here.

Pattern... Christmas softy tree

christmas tree, originally uploaded by things to make and do.

After posting about my Christmas tree the other day I thought I might pop a pattern up for you.

Here it is Christmas softy tree. If you get the chance to make one, I'd love to see it!

Sewn... Erica's birthday crochet roll

Erica's rollup 1, originally uploaded by things to make and do.

I finally finished Erica's birthday present (her birthday was in May, thankfully she is loving and patient!) It is a crochet roll made from a vintage World Vision tea towel. It has slots at one end for hooks and a pocket at the other for projects. I picked this particular tea towel because she has a passion to work overseas with an organisation such as this.

My place & yours - Wherever I lay my hat

This weeks My place and yours theme, Wherever I lay my hat, is all about the things you take with you, that make wherever you go, feel like home. I found this one a bit tricky, I haven't really moved around a whole lot!

So, this is a picture of our Christmas tree (I've just pulled it out from under the house, it's a bit dusty and needs a cuddle) It's a fuzzy, green, tree shaped bean bag which I made an age ago when we lived in our tiny unit. We still use it, even though we have plenty of room for a real tree now, it's a bit of fun! I think The Boy will love it too, I'm glad I wont have to worry about him eating the decorations or pulling it over!

Check out some more My place and yours here.

Mothers Market - all said and done

We had such a wonderful time at the Mother's Market, good times. I'm sad to see it go, the location had a wonderful atmosphere. Here are a few happy snaps. A Vintage Affair will be on 'holidays' from markets until February but I'll let you know when our etsy is up and running. Hope you are having a lovely weekend!

Mothers Market - today and tomorrow

Madeleine and I (aka A Vintage Affair) will be trundling along to the Mothers market this evening (4pm-8pm) and tomorrow (I'm not sure but probably 10ish - 3ish?). We will have all sorts of bibs and bobs to share. I was freaking out a bit last night, but today I'm very excited! If you can't make it along, never fear, we will be opening an etsy shop next week.

Hello miss, you are lovelyI

I would like to make more clothes.

I have a terrible habit of imagining the perfect item of clothing I'd like to purchase, then getting increasingly upset and frustrated when I can't find it. Ridiculous really, I can't expect retailers to carry a line of 'what Bec has been dreaming of, both designed and made in Australia, and not going to break the bank, and complete with TARDIS seams for hiding undesirable muffins.' Also I don't like changing rooms. I'm sorry, this wasn't meant to be a rant, it was meant to be a joyous hurrah for my newly acquired dressmakers dummy! Thrifted for a very reasonable sum, I plan on putting her to work. A summer dress would be just the ticket!

I'm not sure what I should call her, suggestions??