Magnificent mail.

Ah I love happy mail! It makes my morning, my day, my week, & the people behind the packages? Well, they’re even better.

Here in reverse order, is what has landed on my doorstep lately, making me smile, jig & swoon;

Just arrived; a sale order from the Lovely Nic of Yardage Design. If you missed her sale, I don’t want to rub it in, but, well… nerr nerr (..just kidding, as of one minute ago there are still some goodies left…). I bought some misprint market bags; a couple to use as market bags (I’m such a rebel) & one to craft with. Nic also included a bunting panel; though how she knew I’d been umming & ahhhing over one of those too is a mystery; Thank you Nic!

Yesterday a HUGE box arrived from somewhere unfamiliar. I had no idea what it could have been, but when I opened it You Sew Girl, Nicole Mallalieu’s book was inside. I won it via Cath’s blog & I am a little beside myself about it to be honest. I wanted this SO BAD & was going to buy it, but our washing machine kicked the bucket a week after our heater died & I just couldn’t afford it, so when I found out I won a copy, I may have (like the big girly sook I am apparently turning into) welled up a little. Wow it’s a great book by the way, I can’t stop looking through it.

Annnnnnnnnnnd, last but not least, my swap cushion! It arrived last week & it’s gorgeous but I have been waiting for a sunny day to photograph it. Here it is in situ on my bed. Clare made it for me with vintage fabric & not only that but she sent some lovely little gifts along too.

Spoilt much?!

Posted too soon!

The mailman has been!

Thank you Kate! (Punky said, as soon as she saw it “Kate made that too!” & wanted to try it on… who am I to say no?)xo

Mailfunction.

Yesterday we had a bit of a mail – malfunction; the parcel guy left two big parcels for ME at a neighbours house! Luckily, said neighbour knows The Boy from work & knew that the “Little Spencer” one parcel was co-addressed to was his new baby…! *phew!*

Anyway, when the parcels finally got to their rightful destination, their contents were revealed, making all joyful & full of good cheer….

A Christmas present for Suspense (Yup… that’s what I’ve been calling him. I can’t help it. Nicknames are my thing…), & WHAT a Christmas present! GORGEOUS, funky, funny, cute… the best robot ever pretty much, from Cath…

…& a special wee girl bunny for me to stitch up & stuff for Le Punk (Thank you sweetness – she loves it even now..!).

As if that weren’t enough to set my heart a-flutter, I had to take deep breaths when opening the next parcel… fluff!

A long-awaited nappy lay-by… lovely!

I am very concerned for the state of mind of our parcel guy however – I get quite a few parcels delivered here, you’d think he’d know by now…? Perhaps the Christmas postal rush is starting & making the poor guy frazzled… I DON’T CARE! Don’t give my lovely mail to other people! BAD PARCEL GUY! Yikes!

*coughs*

And now for something completely different, an irrelevant picture of my little chick magnet:

Have a great weekend kiddies, & fellow Victorians; don’t forgot to vote… if only so you don’t get fined for it later – there certainly isn’t much to choose from….

Thankies….!

Look what arrived for me yesterday….

A fabulous more-than-just-a-cookbook from Amy…

…wrapped in…

ROBOT PAPER!

As if I weren’t already stoked enough to have won a copy – it’s little touches like that that melt my cold stone heart & make me adore blogland & it’s lovely bloggers anew.

AND there was even a personal recipe recommendation; chocolate mousse… mmmmmm….. chocolate….. Huh? Oh. Yes. Sorry.

Read all about this beautiful book over here – there is SO much packed into this sturdy little book that I think I’m going to need some time to get through it all, but get through it I will for it’s right up my alley. Thankies Amy – I LOVE IT!!

What sort of thing has been gracing your snail-mail-box lately? Prizes? Presents? Hideous little letters with nasty plastic windows…??

Happy Mail!

I have been absurdly slack in posting pictures of my happy mail lately, but a teeny weenie parcel in in the mail box yesterday made me realise that if I didn’t get to it soon (…and I wanted to, because happy mail is one of my favourite things, and you might like some too…), I’d get too overwhelmed & not bother… So, here is a lovely assortment of things that have graced my mailbox recently….

Yesterday’s arrival – a pair of rainbow hair clippies from Sticharooney – you may recognise them – they are our second pair, the first being somewhere where I don’t know where they are… (Note to self, make hair clip holder, and SOON!)

A gorgeous wee girlie brooch from My Poppet.

My ‘Here Comes The Sun’ swap surprise from Steph… a MAGNIFICENT (& frikkin HUGE – so big I can’t even fit the whole thing in a photo…) cloth hopscotch set…! It is amazing – I was in shock when I opened it, quite frankly.

Um… what to call these…?! I was going to say ‘rocket balls’… but, that wouldn’t be right, would it…?! *coughs*

Space-themed soft fabric ball set from Etsy. I ordered them a few weeks ago when The Boy bribed me with some pocket money if I didn’t whinge about him working on his day off… Robots & space go hand in hand, me thinks.

Speaking of robots…. look what Cath made for me! I mean… for bubba#2. Two gorgeous, chunky chooky robot rattles! Tres special or what?!

And that, my dears, is all of my marvellous mail of late. You might think our postie needs a thank you note or something, but it all arrived with decent intervals over several weeks. Really!

More Magnificent Mail…

The weather is dismal here today – not at all the weather I was after for taking lovely pictures of something special that arrived here last week, but it worked out for the best, ooohparently, because it has made for some authentic action shots, as dark as they may be…

A while back I was whinging about wanting a quilt, I still want one, a big one, for our bed, and I will continue to whinge about it, until I pull my finger out and make one, but in the meantime I have something super sweet to tide me over when my quilt longings get too much… an adorable vintage sheet lap quilt from Deb.

For no reason.

She just made it & sent it. For us.

Touched, I am! I think it is a bit of a not-so-covert quilt maker’s conversion kit, a bit of “Look, this was so easy I just whipped it up & posted it, you can make one too!” action, she’s even put up a great tute on making MY quilt, so you can have one too, ‘cause you’re not having mine! (Or, if you really can’t find the motivation, she’s giving a quilt away!)

I say ‘mine’, oh, if only that were true! It has been unceremoniously snavelled by Miss Punk – I was waiting to know the sex of Bubba 2 before I gave it to her because it would have been perfect in a baby girl’s nursery *sniffle* – but now it’s hers & she knows it.

I told you it was cold – I had the quilt in Punk’s room on the ‘reading chair’ (formerly the ‘crafting throne’) and came in to find her quietly set up beneath it with a good book or seven, and then, just as I turned on the computer to blog this, she trudged past me, quilt in tow, and resettled on the sofa for some cartoons.

Thank you Deb, I don’t think I could really say those words enough to convey how much I really appreciate the thought & effort from someone I only know through blogland, I feel so incredibly lucky to have connected with people like you, sharing, generous, kind & creative people like you, it’s amazing, really.

(PS, that cute pink ‘jammie monster’ on Punk’s chair is a bit more mail-goodness, I bought it from Sam of Jetta’s Nest & looooooooooove it too!)

Holy Smoke.

Right – so, please excuse two “Wow I’m so lucky, look what I got!” posts in one day, but if I didn’t show you what I got in the mail today I would burst, so you’re just going to have to lump it.

After posting this morn about waiting on my sumpin sumpin from Lola Nova; it came!

 

Not only the deliciously red & gorgeously made sumpin sumpin I actually bought, but something spectacular for Le Punk & a marvellous wee onesie for the baking bub too…

 

I was all “Ooooh” & “Ahhhhhh!” Lola, I was, and so was the Punk & then I sat stunned & then I cried & felt unworthy but grateful & happy & overwhelmed & full of such wonder at your generosity & your beautiful heart.

I know you didn’t send these things for kudos, I know you did it because that is who you are, & because I like to think we’ve clicked somehow since stumbling across each other here in this great big blogosphere & I’m so glad & grateful for that & I’m going to cry again…

Damn you woman (…and thank you; so much.) xo.

Awesome Mail.

Oh yes!

Unexpected gifties in the mail really are the best – yesterday I heard the postie at the door & rushed out, I’m expecting a little sumpin sumpin from Miss Lola’s cosy shop – but my BIG parcel wasn’t from America… it was from New Zealand… and I didn’t immediately recognise the name…

But when I opened it – oh I knew, and it was grand! Quite some time ago I won a giveaway on Jacqui’s blog Hazelnuts, the prize was whatever you would like from Jacqui’s ‘back catalogue’ of awesome craftiness, which of course I couldn’t decide on, so I listed pretty much everything she made & said “Surprise me!” – and surprise me she did!

THANK YOU SWEET THING!

Punky is in love – I am in love – and amazed by the serendipity of my pincushion… You rock!

No Comment

Lately friends, I have been even more crappity crap at acknowledging comments & replying to emails than I normally am, I could spout an excuse or eleven, & they might even be real, valid excuses, but I shant… I apologise profusely & fully intend to pull up my socks, from NOW.

Pics From… The Usual…

Happy Mail.

If I weren’t already over my little funk – I definitely would be now.

A beautifully printed tea towel from the super talented Nic – A totally unnecessary thank you for something I didn’t mind doing for her at all. She is naughty but I love it. It’s going away - to be seen again ONLY when I have a new, renovated kitchen. If I had a poolroom, well, it would be going there, that’s how special it is… it arrived in the mail when I was feeling particularly glum, surprising me & Nic ooohparently – Aust post are on their game!

This. Makes. Me. A. Bit. Teary. Chai. PROPER chai. For me. For no reason. From Cathie. One of the sweetest bloggers you could hope to come across, and probably the best cook… um, ever. I love it gorgeous, and appreciate it, and you, so much. xo

Christmas Shopping & Then Some….

I am pretty sure that most of my Christmas shopping is now complete… I hope so anyway – it remains to be seen whether everything I’ve ordered from Etsy arrives in time to be posted off to everyone…!

While shopping for others, I inevitably found things that I myself just COULD NOT live without, and had no choice but to buy for myself; I know Mr Handmade-hater isn’t going to be getting me any lovely Etsy goodies, and Santa is awfully busy this time of year….

My most exciting purchase has been these boots on Sunday – Oh I can’t wait for them to get here! They were SUCH a bargain too - $45 US with free shipping. Free Shipping! From America! Gotta love that.

I was also checking my mailbox hourly for this & was finally rewarded yesterday afternoon!

I bought it along with some other gifties from this shop (I super highly massively recommend – everything came packaged beautifully & professionally & she customised it all & had it shipped out very fast, & she obviously has a grand sense of humour!) – I have been wearing it since I opened the envelope – it has a pleasant tinnie jangle when I move & it makes me smile every time I look at it. It’s a quote from Salad Fingers – probably the creepiest cartoon I have ever seen. Episode one not so much, but from there…. *shiver* It’s funny in that “it’s really weird & I don’t quite know why I like it” kind of way.

 

Seems I’ve been on a bit of a spending spree – Don’t tell you know who! Look at this very happy mail I also got yesterday on the way out to the Post Office;

Every issue of thaw zine & a sweet little handmade Chrissie ornament! I’ve as yet only had a chance to flick through but I can see some quality reading in my future. I was compelled to purchase these… and a subscription… because Jodie’s daughter is the cover girl on the latest issue & she was nice enough to tell us all about it. It’s cool because it’s based in Ballarat which is not all that far from here (we had an opshopping excursion there a wee while ago) & is new & fresh & interesting. It’s got cute “if only I were 18 again & all pretty & waif like” fashion spreads in it too.

 

It’s also cool because lovely Jodie had an adorable softie, Rocket the elephant (look at his braces!), up for grabs if you bought a copy of the latest issue – and I won him! I’m going to keep him for Le Punk’s birthday, she will adore him!

Things I Keep Forgetting....

...the very first thing being that I forgot to even blog yesterday - I was immersed in a blasted WIP that is taking much longer than I anticipated, which is annoying me because I am ALL about the instant craft gratification. All I am going to say is that it as close as I am ever going to get to quilting, and the fingers that hold the needle feel both numb and as though I should expect horrible callouses at any moment. Sounds like a fun project, no?

Anywho, I actually started this catch up post the day before yesterday, or the evening before yesterday, but as I was typing *zloop*, everything shut down. It was super windy & the power was out.

We sat around looking at each other for a while, considering our predicament, and then decided to go for a drive & see if it was just our side of town temporarily plunged into darkness. Turned out that not only was the entire town power-less (it is both strange and satisfying to see those 'golden arches' and 'bucket in the sky' unlit in the night), but most people had the same idea - driving around sticky beaking... probably, upon reflection, not the greatest idea we've ever had, since the traffic lights were also out of business.

On the way home, I saw one of those cool (weird) bright plastic toy boxes in the shape of a round frog on the side of the road, with some other random stuff & a "FREE!" sign - I practically jumped out the window and scared The Boy half to death; "STOP THE CAR!!! I NEED THAT....!" he was like "....what the...?" having seen the stuff earlier on the way home and totally ignoring it (*sigh*), he had no idea what it was. "It's a toy box!" I breathed excitedly, having seen one at the Mill Markets on my birthday for $50... "And I NEED IT!!!".

So he had to turn around and drive back, then I jumped out to get it... but it was much heavier than an empty plastic tub should be... it was full of toys! I almost had heart palpitations, that's how excited I was.... luckily, as we turned into our street, we say street & porch lights turn back on - hurrah!

We (Punk & I) rushed inside to peruse our free loot - and loot it most assuredly was - the first thing I picked up was a little Miss Piggy Muppet baby figurine that I recalled from my childhood, a Mickey D's toy from 1986 no less - and then her car.... score! ;)

The other stuff that went into 'Mummy's" pile; a matching gonzo on a rocking horse, a fozie bear sans whatever he was supposed to be on (or perhaps he went on the rocking horse... I can't remember), and ALF clip on with tag still attached from 1989, a carebear, a smurf, 2 teenage mutant ninja turtles in cars that I also recall from road trips, a beagle boy, Rodger rabbit, Donald duck & Fred flintstone.

Punky was thrilled with about a gazillion cars & trucks (she loves them as she only had like 2 Fischer price cars before), Donkey from Shrek with the tag still on, and various other little figurines.

Even The Boy had something to get excited about; an unused Michael Jordan shrinky dink from 1996!!!

I don't think Mr Frog and his stomach full of goodies could have found a better, more appreciative home! I hope all free stuff people put out because they can't be bothered to take them to the oppy have such a fate... ;) We think he must have been a "Grandma's House" toy box, considering what was inside.

Anyway... I digress! All that had nothing to do with my actual post, which is about stuff I keep forgetting to post, starting with;

Lemon Meringue Update;

It WAS delicious. The Boy was very happy with it - pleasantly surprised you might say, and that means I don't have to put up with the hopeful "I bet you can't make a lemon meringue as good as my Mum's..." ever again. I also forgot to mention that the lovely Lisa from Crafty Mamas pointed me in the direction of the (obviously foolproof) recipe for Mile-High Lemon Meringue Pie, I had to sign up for the free trial to get the recipe, but it was SO worth it; http://www.cookscountry.com/pwlogin....ecipe&iseason=

Punky Update;

She has a big girl bed! She loves it, even though the sight of my little Punk in a big bed made me a tad weepy to start with. The very first thing she did after it was put together was to bOuNcE....

Drawing A Day Update;

*shuffles feet* There isn't one. I've not been doing it. I have no excuses.

Flylady Update;

See above. *sigh* The house really looks like a bomb site today, since I've been working like a maniac on my afore mention WIP and hence ignoring everything else, including Punky's rampaging destruction.

Mail Update;

I fully intend to try my hand at a review for the book, I have had a thorough look through already, of course, and can say that it is a pleasure to look at, at the very least.

Right'o, that's everything updated... now I have to go get my house in order.

Crime & Retribution...

I got some lovely happy mail today, and it was even a bit of a surprise since my memory is so cruddy... the box had something like "Outdoor Cleaning Supplies" on it, which was confusing - thought The Boy had ordered something & had it shipped to my name, until I opened it.....

Ah! Pyrex! Beautiful, beautiful vintage Pyrex goodness. This was not just another frivolous purchase however. Oh no. This, was retribution.

A couple of weeks ago I was looking for one of my cool old oven dishes - I had two, a square one & a round one, and I needed the round one to bake in... I couldn't find it anywhere, and when I thought about it, I realised I hadn't seen it for quite a while.

Days later, I stumbled upon this;



My incredible powers of deduction were put to the test, but in the end, I was able to find the culprit.

It must have been a terrible scene, a dark & stormy night, the back door opens with a creak & a man steps out onto the wet cement. A large brute of a dog approaches menacingly, eyeing the prize in the mans hands greedily... moments later, the startling sound of vintage ovenware shattering into several heart breaking pieces pierces the night air...

That's right. The Boy had given my beautiful dish to the dog with leftovers in it. That in itself is wrong on so many levels, but somehow the dish was broken and The Boy, knowing the implications, and fearing the wrath of a kitchen kitch collecting crazy woman, "hid" the evidence down beside the house.... apparently while finishing off a beer.

So, when I saw this cute set of Pyrex on ebay, I knew it had to be mine, oh yes, and there wasn't a darn thing The Boy would be able to say about it!

You'll be shocked & horrified to learn that he also, two house moves ago, heartlessly disposed of my vintage sunbeam mixmaster.

I am keeping my eye out.