Softy Christmas tree pattern

We've been having some fun family time this week:: Thanksgiving - not an Australian tradition, but very much welcomed to our family with the addition of my American sister in-law and the annual cousin dinner (all the cousins on my side of the family have dinner together) - hosted at our place, normally fondue but we went low-key and had pizzas and board games instead! (I learnt how to play cribbage and am now even deeper and more in love with the grannier side of life).

Amoungst the packing and cleaning I have put out 'a few' Christmas decorations. We have a non-tradtional Christmas tree, a bean bag softy Christmas tree I made, it is fabulous if you have small children (ie. they can't eat the decorations or injure themselves!) or enjoy the extra seating option!

Here is a pattern if you would like to whip one up before the silly season.

Christmas softy tree

If you get the chance to make one, I'd love to see it!

Oh deer!

The best thing about packing? Finding things I'd forgotten about or thought I'd lost a long time ago. This adorable deer bag is one of my all time favourites, I've had it since I was a small child.

Pianola

The very first time I went to my husband's house (back in the days when we were just friends) he played me 'Ticket to ride' by the Beatles on his parents pianola. I think pianolas are so lovely and the rolls are simply beautiful objects too. I have very fond memories of those first moments and memories of being alone together, squeezed next to each other on the piano stool, each wondering if the other felt the same way.

They had about a zillion at the op-shop I visited yesterday - something I've not seen at an oppy before - and even though Blair's parents pinaola is currently in storage I couldn't help but by a few rolls ("The Sound of Music" and the themes from "Madam butterfly"). They will sit on my shelf and be loved, even if the music is trapped inside them.

I'm being lazy and not getting out my camera to photograph the pianola rolls in question - so the image above is from here.

Away.

Howdy friends. I've been away in Melbourne, sorry for the lack of posts!

We visited some of our lovely family and started preparations for our move in the not too distant future.

Are you afraid of the internet? I think I might be a little. Media (and also watching The Social Network the other week) has made me a bit concerned about my accessibility. I read in the paper that houses were being robbed because their occupants updated their facebook status' to say they were away on holidays (which did in all honesty make me feel a bit nervous about telling everyone in the world I wasn't at home).

Media hype or not?

Cat Rabbit - new site

Cat Rabbit has an adorable new website. Designed by the loveable peeps at Floating world and wonderful photography by Sean Fennessy. I love Cat's work, don't you!? She also has some listings in her etsy store at the moment, but be quick before they all get snapped up!

Image by Cat Rabbit, over here

My life in boxes

Packing, packing, packing and you guessed it, more packing! I've been quite amused that every time I put something in a box, somehow - as if by magic, two things get taken out by my adorable little helper. I think I will be head down, bum up for a few days (weeks) to come, which is somewhat more difficult now my centre of gravity has changed!

Packing hasn't been very stressful (yet) but all the extra organisation of tickets, boats, planes, family and timing has been. Lucky for me there is plenty of cups of tea and biscuits to take the edge off.

I hope you have all had a marvellous weekend :)

Picture is unrelated, just uber cute, image credit here

Deloraine

We've been up North for the last week or so visiting family in Devonport and Burnie, good times. While we were up that end of the state we visited the Deloraine craft fair, the first time I've been (since I was about 4, apparently). It was ok, not fabulous, but worth a look. We didn't buy much, a few cookie cutters and a tea towel, I'll show you later. I would have liked to have lunch there, but getting on and off the buses pregnant with a small weary child in tow was exhausting, there were about 14 venues of which we managed 4.

It truly amazes me the fever that seems to overcome craft fair goers. I got bowled over on more then one occasion and The Boy repeatedly whacked in the head by stray handbags. I wanted to say "excuse me, please stop shoving, you will get your chance to have a look, please be a bit more considerate because your bag is at my sons eye height, I was waiting patiently in line for the loo, can't you see I'm pregnant and I'm literally about to wet myself." I've seen this behaviour before at craft fairs, quite unpleasant and I'm not entirely sure what it is about buying craft that has people frothing at the mouth. On a positive note it was fabulous weather and walking through beautiful Deloraine was lovely, it is such a pretty little town, I would recommend it (just don't forget to take your protective headgear!).