NIKKI-SHELL

The Toy Society Christmas Drop

Yesterday my girls and I dropped five bunnies for the Toy Society Christmas Drop.

bunny 1

Bunny 2

Bunny 3
Bunny 4

Bunny 5
Did you find a toy this weekend?  See here for more details.

meme

Nicked from her.

Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. started your own blog

2. slept under the stars

3. played in a band

4. visited hawaii

5. watched a meteor shower

6. given more than you can afford to charity

7. been to disneyland/world-my last holiday with my parents at age 14

8. climbed a mountain

9. held a praying mantis

10. sang a solo

11. bungee jumped

12. visited paris-was attacked by an old man who smashed up my camera with a wine bottle, he thought i was taking his photo (which i was not)

13. watched a lightning storm at sea

14. taught yourself an art from scratch

15. adopted a child

16. had food poisoning-projectile vomit, ill for a week, lost a stone in weight all from a chicken kiev served up for staff dinner, ugh

17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty

18. grown your own vegetables-not doing a very good job though

19. seen the mona lisa in france

20. slept on an overnight train

21. had a pillow fight

22. hitch hiked

23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. built a snow fort

25. held a lamb

26. gone skinny dipping

27. run a marathon

28. ridden a gondola in venice

29. seen a total eclipse

30. watched a sunrise or sunset

31. hit a home run

32. been on a cruise

33. seen niagara falls in person

34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. seen an amish community

36. taught yourself a new language

37. had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person

39. gone rock climbing

40. seen michelangelo's david in person

41. sung karaoke-only once, love shack by the B52’s, which is funny since my Dad owns a disco and karaoke business.

42. seen old faithful geyser erupt

43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant

44. visited africa

45. walked on a beach by moonlight

46. been transported in an ambulance-twice, once while in labour with Mia, the other after giving birth to Heidi

47. had your portrait painted

48. gone deep sea fishing

49. seen the sistene chapel in person

50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris

51. gone scuba diving or snorkelling

52. kissed in the rain

53. played in the mud

54. gone to a drive-in theatre

55. been in a movie

56. visited the great wall of china

57. started a business

58. taken a martial arts class-i was forced to go to karate as a child by my Dad (for self defence) and refused to go again when my brother kicked me in the mouth and bust my lip

59. visited russia

60. served at a soup kitchen

61. sold girl scout cookies.

62. gone whale watching

63. gotten flowers for no reason

64. donated blood-but not allowed to here in Australia since i’m British.  Something to do with Mad cow’s disease :/

65. gone sky diving

66. visited a nazi concentration camp

67. bounced a cheque

68. flown in a helicopter

69. saved a favorite childhood toy-i wish my Mam had kept my Cabbage Patch doll 

70. visited the lincoln memorial

71. eaten caviar

72. pieced a quilt-well, i’m still working on it

73. stood in times square

74. toured the everglades

75. been fired from a job

76. seen the changing of the guard in london

77. broken a bone

78. been on a speeding motorcycle

79. seen the grand canyon in person

80. published a book

81. visited the vatican

82. bought a brand new car

83. walked in jerusalem

84. had your picture in the newspaper

85. read the entire bible

86. visited the white house

87. killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. had chickenpox

89. saved someone’s life

90. sat on a jury

91. met someone famous-a few

92. joined a book club

93. lost a loved one-my Nana

94. had a baby- x3

95. seen the alamo in person.

96. swum in the great salt lake.

97. been involved in a law suit

98. owned a cell phone

99. been stung by a bee

Zakka sewing

I picked this book up from my local book store yesterday.  Leafing though it while Mia had a hissy fit (because i had refused to buy her a disney princess magazine) i knew i had to have it.
I'm particularly loving the following projcts from it.

Viking Key Case

House Mug Mat

Tape Measure Cosy

Merci Apron

Unfortunately the book will be sitting on my bedside table rather than on my crafting table since i don't have the time to start anything from it yet.  I'm working on some articles for Sew Hip this weekend, my BurdaStyle column and some eye pillow orders.

I received an email last week telling me that the new fancy Stitches & Craft Show website is up.  I'm really looking forward to this since i didn't get to go earlier this year, i was about to POP the week of the Melbourne show and was nursing a newborn when the Sydney show was on.  I've heard it's going to be bigger and better than ever!!!!  Lots of change and lots to get excited about :)

Pins and Christmas

My lovely friend Fi gifted me my very own wrist pin cushion.  I asked if she would make me one a while back since i always seem to need pins while sewing and the pincushion is usually on the other side of the room.

In return i made her a few lavender eye pillows.  Talking of which, i'm really not going to get my big cartel shop open before the new year, i was a bit silly to think i would really.  I have a steady amount of orders for the eye pillows this week for christmas presents so that's good.  I still have some very overdue things on my list that i am gradually getting through and I'm taking it very easy this year with  gift making.  I've sewn myself into a frenzy the past few Christmasses and really there was no need.  Too much money is spent on gifts that are forgotten about soon after and half of which don't make it through the year.  In a bid to reduce the amount of stuff we bring into the house and the amount of money we waste we are limiting the gift giving and making it all about spending time with each other and with friends.  There will only be a few gifts each under the tree this year and as long as my girls get those pink dresses they've asked Santa for then i think everyone will be happy :) 

What you wearing Wednesday

Every Wednesday night i go to a yoga class and i wear pants i made from this pattern with fabric gifted to me by this lovely lady. :)

I recently took up yoga and was hooked straight away.  I'd been to a few classes at the gym before this then started to go to a real yoga school with my neighbour who teaches there, oh what a difference!  I'm still new to it all but I feel so much better in myself in body and mind already.  I start the class with my mind buzzing with thoughts and by the end i'm relaxed, calm and energised.

Working on the list

I have a number of things on my list at the moment, some of which should take priority over others but you know how life gets in the way and you just want to do the thing you want to do rather than the thing you have to do.  I've had a head cold for about 4 weeks now which has caused me to have a neck and headache for the duration of that time too.  My brain hasn't been able to function as well as it should and i've struggled a little to decide what i should be doing in what order from my list, looking at it, re-writing it and basically just not getting anything done from it.  I've not even been posting here as regular as usual.

Today was the first day i woke up without a sore neck and a headache and my head feels like it's beginning to clear.  I met up with two of my favourite girls with all nine kids in the park for a short lunch date, took Heidi to have her hips checked (she will be having them x-rayed next week just to make sure), then a meeting with Jenny and Jus about some exciting stuff we have planned for 2009.

So, i'm finally getting my head around the list and getting on with things.  I cut out five bunnies to sew up for the Toy Society Christmas Drop and the Softies for Mirabel Foundation, last night i finished my Mam's birthday quilt and tonight i worked on another quilt.  Tomorrow, who knows.......maybe some of the jobs that need to be done.

What you wearing Wednesday

Today i'm wearing my new green sandals bought at the Sisters' Market last Saturday.

Can you see the tan lines from my other sandals?  attractive huh?  and looking at this photo i think i need to spend more time moisturising my skin.  See more players here.

Justine and I had a stall at the Sisters' Market where we sold Mixtape Zine, the KIDS issue was new out that day and was a huge success!  We also sold some of our handmade creations.  Jus made 'quiet time' pillows for kids nap times and i made lavender eye pillows.

  I've been making these for quite some time now mainly selling them to the yoga school i attend and patients of my physiotherapist neighbour.  I make adult and kiddy sizes and i did really well at the market with them, so I have decided to get off my arse and open the big cartel store i've been meaning to open since last year.  It's not ready yet just yet, i hope to have it sorted in the next week.  I have one worry though, they are filled with linseed's (flax) and lavender, what kind of troubles may i have with shipping outside of Australia?  Any ideas?