Boris.

You’re going to have to excuse any sniffles, snuffles or honking big sobs that might come up during this post because I’m feeling a little bit emotional…

This is Boris. Boris is bright yellow, all kinds of fuzzy & likes custard tarts. He arrived yesterday & has been checking out his new home ever since.

Boris was a surprise. A big, beautiful surprise from Jess. I love him. He made me cry. Jess made me cry. Bloody Jess.

*deep breaths*

Truth be told, I think I was tearing up before I even opened the beautiful package. I saw it’s loveliness & saw that it was from Jess & knew that she had done something special. Damn her.

Then I opened the parcel & there were gorgeous little bears, bunnies & lambs peeping out at me.

*sniff*

Then I opened another sweet package & there was Boris.

I cried.

I did.

Because I could FEEL the love peeps. I’m not being a sentimental pregnant lady… or, I’m not JUST being a sentimental pregnant lady, but he is special. He has heart. Character. Wonk.

How Jess manages to get such a result from some yarn, beads & stuffing I have no idea. She puts herself into them. She puts her affection into them, she cares about them, & each & every one is a beautifully unique creation, a teddy to be adored.

I don’t think I can accurately describe the warm vibe I get from him – especially when I hold him – which he’s made for, quite frankly, with his sturdy little body & tactile fuzz.

I was also a bit in shock, because just yesterday I noticed a member of Boris’ family – Kermit, in Jess’s etsy store, and thought about getting him. I love his big pancake head…

…and then, here in front of me all of a sudden is his big brother. Super cute & YELLOW. W. O. W.

I feel so special. I feel so lucky. I feel unworthy yet so grateful & I feel that Bubba#2 is going to have to share Mr Boris with me, because I do love him.

Thank you Jess, even though thank you isn’t enough. You’re awful & you know it. (…& I KNOW you’ll be mortified by this wee love fest but you made me cry. People need to know you’re a menace, & beware… This is actually a public service announcement…. xoxoxo)

*sob*

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!

Pay It Forward

I know, I know, I am super late to the party, last to arrive at the fair, shutting the gate when the horse has bolted etc, etc, etc.

I can hear you wailing “But VIC! Where have you BEEN?!”

I can see you sitting smugly at your computer (…yes I can! You thought you were safe in that snugee…?!), safe in the knowledge that you’ve posted out and received your Pay It Forward giftees yonks ago.

Well….. pfft!

I thought I HAD missed the Pay It Forward blog boat, I really, really did! I thought that everybody that had any desire to participate had already done so & got it out of their system. I thought my Pay It Forward desire would be forever unfulfilled… until last night, after some random blog hopping. Since I’ve been sick I’ve not been doing much of anything EXCEPT blog hopping & feeling sorry for myself, and it’s been quite lovely actually, finding new blogs & inspiration, but it was almost a miracle to happen across a real, live Pay If Forward post… just waiting for me…!

For those of you that don’t know what I’m talking about, I think I love you. Read on.

Pay It Forward is a meme that has been doing the rounds for some time, spreading the bloggy love so to speak.

How it works;

• I will make a little sumpin sumpin for the first 3 people who comment here who would like to play along.

• I have 365 days in which to complete this endeavour (..perfect!)

• What it will be & when it will arrive is an absolute surprise! Marvellous!

The small print;

Well, it IS called ‘Pay It Forward’ for a reason. You, friend, must do as I have done & post a similar blog entry yourself, hence Paying the handmade bloggy goodness forward & keeping the meme, & the fun, going.

Want to join in? You know you do. C’mon! You’ve got A YEAR! To make whatever you want! Three whatever you wants! And you’ll get handmade goodness from moi, if I do say so myself.

Even you, yes you, snugee wearers. You can go around again. I don’t mind.

Big thanks to Jade Holi for letting me have some Pay It Forward fun!

I'm making a list, and checking it twice....

Christmas if approaching at an alarming rate & it is slowly dawning on me that I better get cracking with the Christmas presents. I have decided to go with handmade gifts for all, except for a couple we already have on lay by for the Punk (I can't imagine where one would go for a handmade trampoline...).



I announced this interesting fact to The Boy who immediately replied (brace yourselves crafty ladies with crafty or at the very least, nice, partners....) "I don't want any of your crap!". I am hoping he was joking. If not. He's just going to have to suck it up.



I'm not going to make everything myself - oh no - I just don't think I'm up to that. Plus, there are so many talented artisans out there making some lovely things, much better than I could ever hope to do. So I am making only the things I really, really want to, and that I think I can do justice to, and buying the rest. Even buying handmade is, to me, so much more personal & prompts you to think more about the person you are buying for and why you are buying them anything at all. It is easier to buy the usual department store stuff - without a doubt, you could get an ipod shuffle for everyone on your Christmas list, but does that really capture the spirit of giving....?



I love Christmas & I love giving gifts. I just LOVE it. Much more than receiving gifts, although I won't complain when I get some, but I just adore the entire process of gift giving, from the initial thoughts to the finale - the recipient's expression when they open their little sumpin' sumpin'. It is fun & heartening & good for the soul.