Who knew vacuuming could be this much fun?!?

Okay, so the sun is shining brightly and there is lovely Spring breeze here today so we have thrown open all the windows and aired all the mattresses and generally banished any leftover lurgy germs that might be lingering.  With us all down with the virus I'm afraid the house looked a bit of a tip (as is wont to do when the kidlets spend too much time on the couch in a lethargy of very average childrens television while their parents heave and snuffle - yes I know BAD MOTHER ALERT but this was not a normal week LOL)

Anyway, even the kids must have sensed how great it felt to be up and doing stuff because this spot of vacuuming turned into a great play opportunity. 

My two girlies are so alike.  I have a similar photo of Hannah at about the same age sitting on the vacuum cleaner!  The funny thing is that my small son, even as a baby, would go into hysterics the minute the vacuum cleaner came out.  He was TOTALLY freaked out by it and it got so bad that I could only vacuum when he wasn't around.  This photo reminds me of just how much he is growing up - even 6 months ago this would have been his worst nightmare!

Last photo is more of Hannah's block art.  This was what she got up to before breakfast this morning.  Anyway, gotta go, more washing to hang and sunshine to enjoy!
Keep smiling,

Nell

p.s. anyone else having trouble getting photos to go in the right spots at the moment?

September... the month that was....

Well, it feels like September has passed by in a bit of a blur really! Hard to believe I've not blogged at all!  The last week has been spent in a gastro/flu bug haze of washing and mothering.  I'm hoping that we are all on the mend now!

Before that September was about waiting on a winter that never ends, dreaming of Spring:











Picture courtesy of my children who crept away to play quietly one rainy day - I love it when they produce something so exquisite without any adult intervention!

September was surprising; Father's Day (Dan was so chuffed to surprise Daddy with his handmade tie!), Maddie surprised us with more teeth, and we had a HUGE Creative Memories month where we added 5 team members, promoted my dear friend Meredith to Unit Leader, and I had my best sales month in a long time!

September was also a little bit silly: Hannah had her school concert and had to dress as a sheep (would have loved to show you photos of the whole flock of sheep as they looked too darn cute but I am funny about putting photos of other people's children on my blog)

 We also had a lovely lunch out with our dear Mum's group friends - the bigger kids have known one another since they were 6-`10 weeks old, the littlies have known one another all their lives.  This is such a special group of friends and we always have so much fun together!September was also a little bit scary as I had my first public speaking gig in way too many years (and have been asked to speak again at our Christmas Luncheon so I must have done alright!)

September was largely craftless (unless you count 5 sheep costumes!)  September was also thriftless (the only time I got to the opp shop was to find a basket to fill with pressies for a friend) 

Let's hope for a crafty/thrifty/bloggy October (with at least a hint of Spring sunshine!!!)

Keep smiling,

Nell

Loving these moments!

Today I am loving the sunshine (after SOOOO much rain!)
I am loving:

this little one's current enthusiasm for cooking (and that he is becoming more capable and responsible in the kitchen!)

the gorgeous randomness of notes left by our emergent writer; I had such a "treasure forever" mummy moment when I found this note with a fistful of flowers left on my pillow!  And I'm still in shock that she actually apologised to her brother LOL!

I am loving the delightful chortle/chuckle/squeal that accompanies this little one up the hallway as she sets out to find someone; the closer she gets the more she laughs until at last she is so hysterical that she almost can't crawl - such fun!  Since she has been crawling properly Maddie is just a little ray of sunshine - not quite so frustrated and ever so proud of herself!  I am learning just how unbabyproof our house is LOL

Cleaning beckons, paperwork beckons, my garden is singing to me "come out and play in the sunshine" and there is washing to hang...
Happy Monday!
Keep smiling,
Nell
xxxx

Perspective

Isn't it funny how a little distance can give you a whole new perspective?  I spent the weekend in Brisbane having a super time with these girls at our annual Creative Memories Conference;

While I was there Maddie got to hang out with Auntie Kaz (my gorgeous sister) and wouldn't you know it she was the model child - going four hours (sometimes more) between feeds and having several decent sleeps each day LOLThe conference was three full on days and by the time I returned last night I was missing my little people and my man SOOOO much.  When I saw my two sweet cherubs waiting at the top of the gangplank for me it was all I could do not to break into a run and shamelessly mow down anyone in front of me!  We have had so much wet weather lately and I confess that I have been feeling run down and not altogether happy with the piles of washing and crumbs that come with SAHM status.  A little break away and a bit of vitamin D does wonders for your perspective.  Like Leanne Beasley from http://www.leanneshouse.typepad.com/ states in her book I am "Living the Dream - being surrounded by family and friends and screaming three year olds"  - sometimes when you are immersed in the dream day in day out it can turn a little like a nightmare so it was refreshing to come back with a new perspective and renewed enthusiasm.

I LOVE my Creative Memories business for the unexpected opportunities it gives me to step out of my Mummy shoes.  Each year I get two trips away (Showcase and Summit) and I have been given opportunities that I never would have thought of - things like living it up in a 5 star luxury heritage hotel in Cairns, cruising Sydney Harbour on a private yacht, seeing Vanessa Amorossi close our conference, spending time at Sanctuary Cove with one of my best friends and my sister (both got to meet my new Maddie when she was only 8 weeks old)  Silver Service feels so good when you're used to sausages and vege - and to have a turn down service with no crumbs or duplo bits in your bed can be a little slice of heaven LOL!  I feel so blessed to have opportunities with this amazing company and always enjoy time spent with my beautiful, fun-loving team.  I know I don't often talk about my business much here but if you would like to know more please check out www.mycmsite.com.au/nellward 

This trip Maddie and I got to catch up with my parents too - such a special time!

So now I am back to an Adelaide winter and guess what? When we got home late last night I noticed that one single daffodil had decided to show its sunny face - which means that Spring can't be too far away!!!

Leaving you with my most recently finished quilt - a dresden plate friendship quilt that was started in the days before children LOL!  The scalloped edges were a class with Sara from the Patchwork Apple.

Have a happy week!

Keep smiling,

Nell

Tyranny of Distance

I spent Sunday feeling very sorry for myself (not least because this Queensland gal is over the horrible SA Winter!)  I was grumpy because Thursday my lovely SIL had her birthday (and I was missing her and wanting to be back in the UK sunshine!)  Then Saturday my bestest buddy in Sydney had her birthday (and her sweet cherub turns one this week too)  It feels like it has been far too long since we caught up.  Sunday was my Mum's birthday - and we haven't seen her since February.  Sunday I also decided to call my friend Judy in Melbourne only to find that she was just back from the Lacemakers Retreat that I used to go on with Melbourne friends.  I moved out of home almost 20 years ago.  I moved interstate (Melbourne) in 1997.  I moved to SA in 2001.  When am I going to stop missing people and places?  Distance sucks.  Don't tell me the world is getting smaller.  Skype and email and facebook ...none of them even come close to a real hug.
I promise to be back with a happy chatty post soon but for now I just want to grump!

Finally some finishes!!!

Finally I have some finished projects to show.   This is the Gail Pan Free Christmas Block of the Month Quilt.  She has lots of these in her gallery and I am amazed by how different they all look just by using different fabrics and different finishing techniques.  It looks kind of ordinary in this photo but it is really quite pretty in real life and I am just so glad to finally be finished something!

Next up is Dan's strippy quilt - a kit from TPA with my own little applique twist.  This means that I am only one quilt away from achieving my long term goal of a handmade quilt on every bed!

I've also been "spinning my wheel" lots lately - the minute Winter hits I find an irresistable urge to spin and knit.  My nephew was in need of a new beanie and his mum requested blue and brown so Kathy from http://www.kathysfibres.com/ made up some beautiful dyed merino for me - she has even called it "Heath" after my nephew!  When I knitted the first beanie from it Dan claimed it so I have had to knit another and then request more wool so he can have a scarf to match.  I used my new wooden circular needles to knit these - lovely to work with!  Next up is a purple crocheted beanie for Hannah - my kids so need more hats like a hole in the head but they've both turned into little fibre junkies and when they see something they like they casually suggest another hat!  In this case it kind of feels good to be taken for granted - I love that they don't see it as unusual that Mum can spin and knit and make stuff and I find my spun projects just so satisfying - a real "something from nothing" kind of experience.

Anyway, enough blathering, I'm off to hang washing and clean mushed banana off the wee one's face; starting solids is so much fun!
Happy Tuesday,
Keep smiling,
Nell

p.s. guess which very excited boy starts kindy tomorrow?

24 Hours in Paris

The whirlwind trip of a lifetime:  LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT! Went over on the Eurostar one day and came back the next.

Next time James and I will go back and do the romantic stuff; this time it was so short and sweet and kid friendly - and did I mention beautiful and glorious and so wonderful?

On a totally unrelated craft note.  Hannah and I are having a MAKE, PLAY, CLEAN school holiday, which means that every day we need to make something, play something, and clean something.  Today's make, play, clean is supposed to be chocolate crackles, kite flying, and her room :)  Considering that I am now 2 projects behind in my quest to finish things I probably need to dust off the sewing machine and finish Dan's quilt.
Keep smiling,
Nell