Camping with the Kids

We went camping on the weekend.

I have no photographic evidence because my little pocket-camera has gone "kapoot" and is no longer able to zoom.

We camped at Dover - it was lovely.

In the morning we swan in the thermal pool at Hastings - also lovely.

What wasn't lovely was forgetting to take a pillow, not having enough room to sleep (TIP: two pre-schoolers do not equate to one adult therefore the three-man tent wasn't sufficiently large for us all), and Kelvin literally bouncing off the walls of the tent before going to sleep 2 hours after going to bed!

It was a learning experience.  It was fun.  It may be some time before we do it again!!

Demi-septuagenarianism (+ the giveaway winner)!

It was my birthday yesterday.  I turned 35, making me a demi-septuagenarian!  Yesterday was a day like any other day.  It was Tuesday, I went to work (except someone sent me lovely flowers for my birthday which I struggled to hide from my collegues), I went to singing and got home just in time to read stories before getting some dinner and crashing into bed.  However, today involved a delicious chocolate cake that was lovingly made by my family, decorated in true pre-school fashion (on the sly while I was having a shower, in sugary technicolour glory) and friends came over for lunch and they sang to me - a lovely celebration of another year.
Anyway, enough about me!  On to the giveaway draw.

Old fashioned, 20-names into the hat kind of draw!

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Cherrie at Willy Wagtail!  One vintage sheet layer cake will be winging its way to your place very soon.

PS.  For anyone who didn't win - go and try your luck over at Lila Tueller's blog, she's giving away some of her own gorgeous fabrics!

Another weekend of fun and sun!

We have had a pretty cruisy weekend which started on Friday night with free tickets to the biggest event Hobart has seen for a while - the opening party for MONA (but we still haven't seen inside the museum).  Apart from pottering in the garden and playing on the swingset we were invited to a celebration, have helped family move closer and generally enjoyed each others company.



Happy 2nd Birthday Oesch!



And this afternoon we went to the local Transport Museum for a wander.  I think I have a couple of firefighters in training (Matilda has been doing "Stop, Drop, Rock n Roll" the newly written musical number ever since we came home).

Or perhaps Matilda could become a farmer Farmer's wife* - she's a dab-hand on the tractor!

* It was pointed out to me that saying my daughter could only be the wife of a farmer could be a bit limiting. This was not intended, I know that my daughter can be anything that she wants and dreams of being. She has just finished telling all the boys at childcare that she can be a builder when she grows up (if she wants to)!

I also had to giggle at the Second Class Ladies compartment!

And Climax, the very large piston!!

Auctions & Giveaway

I'm working full-time for the next couple of weeks so there has been little time and energy for blogging or crafting this week.

That's me at work, 6 years younger and trying to look sophistocated whilst standing on the side of the road!!

But I just wanted to pop in here to say - how amazing it is that we-bloggers-we have collectively raised $45,000 for the Queensland Flood Appeal.  Again, a huge thanks goes out to Toni and Carli for getting our butts into gear.

One of my auctions still has no bidders.  This photo box may not be the most exciting looking thing on the planet but my word it is useful.  I have one at home and it is fabulous for safely storing photos until you get a chance to put them into albums - and to be honest, I actually have two of these on the go for our photos because I have the best intentions in the world to put my photos into albums but life seems to take over.

Anyway, a big thank you to the generous souls out there who have bid on my other two auctions - vintage sheet layer cake and EQ7 software + book.

And, for anyone still reading this - my 200 post, half-way to 70 birthday giveaway is still open so go and leave a comment for your chance to win.

Queensland Flood Appeal - Auction #3, Creative Memories Large Photo Sort Box

** AUCTION NOW FINISHED**

** Winning Bid = $40 from Jeni**

** THANK YOU ALL FOR LOOKING AND PARTICIPATING **

Up for grabs is a brand new Creative Memories Large "Power Sort Box" - black in colour.  Holds up to 2400 photos - organised in a way that allows you to see exactly what you have, keeping your pictures safe until you get a chance to put them into albums (and much safer for your pictures than an old shoe box)!

My apologies for the photo quality - please click on this link to see what it's all about.
Just remember, this Large Powersort Box holds twice as many photos as the Medium one (and isn't quite as pretty)!

This product is no longer for sale, however the medium box (which is half the size) has an RRP of $49.  Please note, this item ships flat and requires assembly.

How this auction will work: 

1. Bidding will start at $50 $25 (Australian)
2. You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this post with your bid amount and email address. Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.
3. Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4. This auction is open to everyone. Postage is FREE for Australian residents. International people - you will be charged for the cost (parcel and stamps) to post to International addresses.
5. The auction begins as soon as it is posted and will END at midnight 9pm on Monday 24th January 2011.
6. At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address). The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email. Once proof of payment (and international postage if applicable) has been received, I will post your goodies to you.
7. Thankyou for participating and happy bidding!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO TONI FOR COORDINATING THESE AUCTIONS!

Queensland Flood Appeal - Auction #2, EQ7 Software + Baby Quilt Book

** AUCTION NOW FINISHED **

** Winning Bid = $155 **

** Congratulations to SEW HAPPY JAN from Queensland **
** I need you to contact me please !! **

** THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING **

You will be bidding on a brand new copy of the Electric Quilt 7 software to help you design your own quilts!  Minimum system requirements Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit), internet access, 750MB of available hard-disk space, CD-ROM drive.
I'll also throw in a copy of Cherished Quilts for Babies and Kids.

RRP $190 for EQ7 + $30 for book = $220!

How this auction will work:

1. Bidding will start at $150 (Australian)
2. You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this post with your bid amount and email address. Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.  
3. Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4. This auction is open to everyone. Postage is FREE for Australian residents. International people - you will be charged for the cost (parcel and stamps) to post to International addresses.  
5. The auction begins as soon as it is posted and will END at midnight 9pm on Monday 24th January 2011. 
6. At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address). The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email. Once proof of payment (and international postage if applicable) has been received, I will post your goodies to you. 
7. Thankyou for participating and happy bidding!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO TONI FOR COORDINATING THESE AUCTIONS!

Queensland Flood Relief - Auction #1, Vintage Sheet Layer Cake

**  AUCTION NOW FINISHED**
**  Winning Bid = $60, Congratulations Angela**

** THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING **

Up for grabs is a "layer cake" (or 40 different fabrics cut to 10" x 10").  There are 40 different fabric prints in this pack - hand cut from vintage, retro or nanna sheets.  Sheets have been laundered and are cotton or a polycotton blend.

How this auction will work:

1. Bidding will start at $20 (Australian).

2. You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this post with your bid amount and email address. Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.

3. Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.

4. This auction is open to everyone. Postage is FREE for Australian residents. International people - you will be charged for the cost (parcel and stamps) to post to International addresses.

5. The auction begins as soon as it is posted and will END at midnight 9pm on Monday 24th January 2011.

6. At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address). The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email. Once proof of payment (and international postage if applicable) has been received, I will post your goodies to you.

7. Thankyou for participating and happy bidding!
 
A HUGE THANK YOU TO TONI FOR COORDINATING THESE AUCTIONS!

Auction for Queensland Flood Relief

I can't begin to imagine what people are feeling in Queensland tonight - nature is amazing and water can be so destructive.  I've decided to join in with the auctions to raise funds for flood relief in Queensland. Toni and her sister are doing an amazing job coordinating these auctions of handmade items with a masterlist being posted on Monday 17 January 2011.

I'm planning to put together a few bits and pieces - some things handmade, maybe some scrapbooking supplies, a quilting book, and I think I'll even put together a second vintage sheet layer cake (the same as the one you can win in my 201 post giveaway)!

So check back here on Sunday which is when I plan to start my auction(s).

201 Posts = Giveaway!

I'm finally up to 200 posts which means it's time for a giveaway.  Thanks to everyone who has visited my little part of the blogasphere over the last couple of years!  This blog is really my indulgence - I record details of my crafting which is really something that not many people in my "real life" know about and share some of the silliness that is my family!!  For me this blog is a way to connect with likeminded people at a time and place that is conveninent (which is great with pre-school aged children - couldn't get out of the house after 7pm to attend a knitting or sewing get-together).


And I'm going to cut into my vintage sheet stash and make up a "layer cake" to share!  Just like the Moda layer cake, there will be 40 fabrics, cut to 10 inch squares - more authentic than Dream On!  I'm yet to see whether I have 40 different sheets so the layer cake may double up with the prints!  I'll probably throw in some other bits and bobs as well!

Dream On by Urban Chiks for Moda (this is not what I'm giving away - my layer cake will be better!!)

So to be in with a chance to win all you need to do is to leave a comment on this post - perhaps tell me what you're looking forward to most in 2011.  I'll leave comments open until my birthday (Tuesday 25 January) and draw on Australia (Wednesday 26 January).  Open to anyone, worldwide.

Thanks again for dropping by!

Goals for 2011

"Jo and Eady" Artbike rack at Salamanca Square, by K. Betlehem

Three days into the New Year and I've decided to list my goals for 2011!

Artbike Racks at Salamanca Square, by K. Betlehem

• Do more exercise, drink more water and lose a couple of kilos
• Finish my Masters (in Traffic Engineering) - likely completion Jun 2011
• Have a market stall at a handmade market around Hobart (once I've finished my Masters)
• Have more fun and enjoy my children more
• Make more, buy less

Artbike Racks at Salamanca Square, by K. Betlehem

Tomorrow it's back to work.  It's been a lovely few summer days potering in the garden and catching up with people from far and wide!

Artbike Racks at Salamanca Square, by K. Betlehem