Is it too early?

For CHRISTMAS?

I realize that those of you who live in the U.S. haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet

So you may feel this a little premature...

And there are those of you that sleep when I'm awake

--not that you're nocturnal,

you're just from Down Under

(do you call it the Down Under when you live there?--okay, nevermind)

Anyway,

When do Australians start to decorate?

It's summer isn't it?

Christmas in the summer...

hmmm...

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Well I'm ready now!

I've decided to buy myself a little gift every year that reminds me of my dad.

You know, something to make me feel that he's still a part of it...

Last year I bought one of these brooches from here

in grey of course.

So this year I was stumped.

Until today that is.

I was reading blogs and stumbled across this post from MakeLifeSweet

Okay.

Seriously.

They know they've got my number.

My VISA number, that is!

I couldn't help myself.

I clicked buy before I even looked at the price.

It's a kit to make 2 pillows using some of their new Make Life... fabric

Which in case you didn't know...

I am IN LOVE WITH!

Why do these pillows remind me of my dad?

Well those little words all over the one star...

Make life special

Make life fun

Make life simple

Make life exciting

you get the idea...

Well my dad,

at Christmas (or any occassion really)

would

Make Life...Colourful

He may have worn alot of grey

and enjoyed a grey day

but that man brought colour to the cheeks and a smile to the face of anyone within earshot!

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Now....the real question is...

Is it too early to decorate??

Hubby says it is.

I say it isn't!

We argue about it EVERY year!

Apparently my neighbour agrees with me!

I always did like them...

Marking every occasion with a card...

With family in the U.S.

and little me over here living my own life

I forget sometimes to get packages or cards in the mail on time...

especially when I need to send them at least 2 weeks in advance

of when they need to get there!

I normally remember an event 3 or 4 days before it is to take place

and I hate to have a card be there late...

I'd like you to meet Diane.

She's my card angel.

yes. angel.

She makes me look good.

This is the card that I ...

ahem...

I mean to say,

Diane, sent to my mom this year for her birthday.

Isn't it stunning?

My mom is going to frame it!

Or this one?

How cute for anyone's birthday

young or old!

Need to remember your dad but didn't get to Hallmark for that special card?

Let Diane take care of it.

She designs and creates these fabulous cards.

She's even won awards!

she's THAT good!

and she types in a message of your choice just like you'd find at the store.

Then she signs your name and any little extra details

you want hand written.

Then she puts the card in a special envelope,

seals it,

puts a stamp on it and mails it!

Yes!!

Now you see why I love her!

She lives in the States so when I order a card through her Etsy shop for my mom

it only takes a couple of days to cross a few States

verses the 2 plus weeks to cross a border!!

She has cards for all occassions

After my dad passed away I realized I didn't really have many cards from him...

No heartfelt statements...

No memories left on paper...

Now I'm marking EVERY occassion with a card!

So that I can leave a lasting impression on those around me...

and how could I not when these cards are so brilliant?!

I love this Christmas card...

But these?

They have my name written all over them!

Look at the glitter!
So visit Diane and say hi from me!

She'll even remind you year after year to send a card.
Yes she's THAT good!

p.s this is not a paid advertisement...
I just happen to think Diane and her business ROCK!

Joy in the New Year

I have signed up for the Joy in the New Year Challenge

I am new to quilting/crafting

however as I have said before...

I have Crafter's A.D.D.

It is being run by Jacquie of Tallgrass Prairie Studio fame.

The goal is to finish as many of your UFO's

(un-finished objects--also known as started projects not finished)

as possible before the New Year...

If you're interested, you can still get in on the action

click here

I decided to stick to the projects that I have actually cut into and want to finish off...

so that equals 4

even though I have a loooong list to begin and finish before Christmas as gifts!

1. my mother's birthday gift-

-which I'd like to show you but she reads my blog

Hi mom!

2. a fall quilt for myself using the pumpkins gone wild line-

-more on this later...

as it may include a giveaway

*hint hint*

3. a thrifted wool sweater blanket for Bubby similar to Pumpkin's

4. 2 swap blocks using some of this fabulous damask fabric!

Yes. I've signed up to be part of a swap group.
12 women + 12 months x 2 blocks = 12 quilts

My month isn't until November of next year but in the meantime I'm going to be busy working hard for these special ladies on their special quilt blocks.

This is a big step for me but I'm up to the challenge and ready to dig in!

I can't wait to finish up these blocks and show them to you for finish #1!!

I'd better get started...

A colossal thank you to my hubby

for allowing me to purchase a new one of these...

My mouse has been double clicking all over the place

and the last 3 days on the computer have felt like

an uphill climb!

thanks honey!

Thanks are in order...

Man!

I have been delinquent in saying thank you to those who have

gifted me with some LOVELY treasures!

I have been a lucky girl lately
but in my procrastinating ways I've not sent

out my special thank you's.

I was giddy when I received this from Hillary of Designing Happy...

She called it broken breakfast!

Isn't it fabulous!!
(there's a tutorial too

It's about the size of a placemat and is perfect for hanging.

Pumpkin claimed it right away--but I'm keeping those

FQ's for myself until I find just the right project!

LOVE Jenean Morrison!

Thank you Hillary!

I cannot say enough about her creativity!
She's one talented lady and an extremely entertaining blogger.

Take my word for it!

Here is my next prize in use at my computer.

Yes, this is where all the blogging magic happens folks!

and now my Tim Hortons hot apple cider stays nice and warm
through the writing of an entire blog post!

Thanks to my real life and bloggin' buddy Heather.

She hand felted this leaf on to this

thrifted wool sweater cozy!

Heather has been my inspiration to begin the journey of crafting and blogging!

I also won a giveaway for a gift certificate over at Jodi's blog Pleasant Home

from a wonderful online shop called

Folkart Gatherings

I have always wanted a tin star and this one is a whopping 24 inches!!

I might add that shipping was super reasonable!

I can't wait to see my mom at Christmas

I will get it from her as I had it sent to her home!

I'm very excited!

Lastly and my personal favourite

(I'm sure you'll understand why)

from FINKI!

A big thank you to both Finki and Sandra at Pepperberry & Co.

for sending me this treasure.

There is a card and 4 notepads that have a

vintage sci fi image on them.

Kind of like old comic books or sci fi books

this SCREAMS my father in every way!

He was an avid sci fi/medical science reader,

sci fi tv watcher, (the cornier the better)

He had a vast comic book collection.

and he always carried a notepad.

I don't know if Finki actually expects me to use these treasures. I haven't yet. but I will. Maybe with special thoughts of dad.

So there you have it!

I think I had grand plans of beautifully scripted and layed out posts for each of these special thank you's but...

ummm...

yeah...

I'm me--so it didn't happen.

But my intentions were good.

*sheepish grin*

Dear John...

Do you remember a time long ago when witches flew and dragons breathed fire?
When children squealed and skipped?
When the whole street would light up with pumpkin globes?
When you used to take your flashlight and my hand and take me house to house?

Trick or Treat!



I remember being a bunny and you straightened my ears.

I remember complaining my candy was too heavy and you carried my jack o lantern bucket up and down the paths to our neighbour's houses.



I remember mom staying home with the neighbour moms and the husbands taking the kids on their adventures.



I remember you allowing us a piece of candy every 10 houses and after every bite you would smile and say "don't tell mom"--even though you know mom knew you were a softy.



How diligently you would inspect our candy and sometimes tell us that something wasn't safe and then pop it into your own mouth (ahem... like who ate all my coffee crip bars?)



Do you remember when my brother was a sandwich and no one could walk beside him on the sidewalk because he was too big?

You walked on the road so he wouldn't feel lonely and made sure he could make it to all the doors.


Those were happy times, eh dad?
Happy times.

Love
your daughter.

Winner Winner Winner!

yes.

it's true.

I won.

I know.

I can't believe it either!