Featured Gem 14
Real Photo Postcard
‘Non Stop Run From Yarmouth’

Date: Unspecified
People pictured: Unidentified
Postcard Back: blank

Notes: I am loving these prop photos at the moment. Some of the painted prop sets are wonderfully detailed. They’re in the same vein as the paper moon images I have been collecting.

I purchased the image from the UK so I am presuming it is referring to ‘Yarmouth’ in the UK. Is it possible it was taken at a photo booth/studio at the Yarmouth Carnival? I’ll keep digging for info!

Boo! Thought I had better post as I have had a few lovely people email me checking I am ok. Sorry for being so quiet! All is well and I am feeling very happily pregnant (exhausted, heartburn, yuck taste, feeling like a whale!!). We’re very excited about the upcoming arrival but a little nervous as to how quickly this pregnancy has flown! So much to do! (*breath* don’t panic) I am 26weeks this week. 26 weeks already!!!! I am HUGE! From about 20 weeks people have been asking me when I am due and I see the look on their face when I say ‘January’ like they were expecting me to say ‘next week’! Yup I am going for the 10pounder this time. Hmmm.

It’s been a particularly difficult and strange few months and I’ve been a bit lost for words and tongue tied whenever I have come on here. Shortly after my last post we received the awful news that my dear Nanna had passed away. We traveled to Sydney the following week to spend some time with my family and attend her service. We’re quite a small family. Mum is an only child so it’s been very tough for her and I hate being so far away.

I am so pleased Nan got to meet Eloise. There are many things in Eloise that are so very Nanna (the red hair is just for starters!). I am also grateful I got to tell her about our little girl arriving early next year. She was delighted. I want to post more about my lovely Nan, but I just don’t have the words right now to fully describe how dear she and my Pa were to me, so I will leave that until another day. I’ve done a lot of thinking these past few months and things seem different. Nan was my last remaining grandparent so it really feels like my childhood has slipped away. That sounds crazy coming from someone of thirty three. I wish I could describe the feeling more eloquently. There’s something special about grandparents that keeps that spark of childhood alive — I am very lucky to have such a plethora of fond memories and a wonderful family to share them with!

Here is the reason for my absence! I’m 14 weeks this week. Yipee!

I have been feeling very very VERY ill for a couple of months now….you know…the kind of ill you have that’s meant to be ‘all good’ but stops you doing anything much except the bare essentials?! My poor family. I’ve been pretty useless to be honest! Just hoping it doesn’t set in for the entire journey like it did last time (anyone have a cure for that horrible taste?). Hopefully I will be feeling fab and ‘glowing’ well before February 2nd when our new little GIRL is due!

I am so excited for Eloise. She keeps kissing my belly and talking to ‘her’ baby (all her own initiative!)! Sisters. WOW! So much fun to be had! (Apologies if anyone wanted a surprise…I love knowing in advance and there’s no way I’d be able to keep it a secret for another 6 months!)

I see I am not the only one announcing baby news!!!
Congratulations Nichola, Fiona, and Dana!!

Maths books from hell are over (yay!) and I have a HUGE backlog of emails and a mountain of things to post about that I am working my way through, so hang in there if you’re waiting. I’m not usually so rude! I feel like I’ve been treading water for the last 3 months just to scrape by!

Boy do I have a lot to do before February!

Featured Gem 13
Real Photo Postcard

‘Flora’

Date: Unspecified
People: Flora
Studio: Connard – Artist and Photographer – 181 Oldham Road, Arnton-U-Lyne
Postcard Back: Blank. Front signed ‘Sincerely Yours Flora’

Notes: How brilliant is Flora!? A fairy princess? A fairy godmother? Perfectly posed to grant your wishes. Her costume is fabulous right down to the wonderful butterfly detail on her dress. The backdrop is perfect adding that ‘enchanted wood’ fairytale feel.

Friday night was the great Blogetogethertwo organised again by the lovely Nichola and Justine and held at Amite (thanks Jenny!). I had my packages wrapped and ready just in time. It was a fantastic evening with good company — 12 crafty blogging gals. Conversation flowed freely and it was quite a relaxed atmosphere (after the anxiety of sharing gifts subsided that is!). I can’t wait to do it again. It would be fantastic to meet up on a more regular basis. So nice to talk in ‘real life’ with people who understand the blogging community (or even know it exists!) and so inspiring to see what everyone is working on.

Below is a peek at the bounty! I will cheat again and add a link to Nichola’s Flickr set. Have a look to see more details of each gorgeous gift. Such an amazing array of talent and variety of gifts. It was so much fun!

Please check out their blogs: One Girl Designwrks (gorgeous soft cosy woolen mittens and one of her beautiful cards that I have been eyeing off on Etsy!); Melly and Me (stunning lino print cards and lovely cat softie who has mysteriously vanished from my studio already! Hmmm!); Assemblage (Beautiful Gocco printed cards. Very inspiring Kirsten…the first I had seen in ‘real life’ and I am yet to try mine!!); Jelly Baby Blog (Scrummy hand felted journal cover with gorgeous stitching on the inside covers.); Acoustich (super soft beautiful hot water bottle cover with matching yellow bottle! I love it!); One Red Robin (Stunning scarf and cute baby Chibi pattern!); Theoretic Gal (Lovely soft stitched journal cover. Armani offcuts so I am told!); Michelle Giacobello (Lovely pin cushion complete with beautiful little pins made from clever shrinky stuff!); Little Mysteries (sweet little owl made with beautiful vintage fabric); Nikki-Shell (Amazing keyring. Beautiful combination of textures and colours.); 62Cherry (Gorgeous needlebook and matching giftcard). PHEW! How lucky am I?

My gift was a ‘Winter Journal’ made using various paper stocks. I also added a few envelopes, filing cards and shipping tags to the mix, inspired by my lovely friends at Journaux (Anne and Coralee are you reading this?!). Every few pages included some winter inspired imagery. I am really enjoying my image collecting addiction at the moment and wanted some way of incorporating it into my gift. I get really passionate about collecting to a theme so I had fun gathering wintery images — vintage photos and illustrations, old postcards, ephemera and line art. I especially loved the front cover image of the 1920s ski girls. Somehow it seemed just perfect for our Blog meet.

I sourced most of the paper at Pedigree Paper, the K.W.Doggett retail showroom in Preston where I was seduced by rows of shimmery ‘winter wonderland’ appropriate papers. This place is amazing. I love it. In the same way a sewer loves fabric shops this is a paper hoarders dream. Shelf after shelf of delicious top quality paper and card stock. Great value pick-n-mix boxes, $5 offcut bags and piles of matching envelopes.

I also made a set of three pin back buttons with my new badge maker machine! I used shimmery paper stock in subtle pastel pink, blue and white. This is sooooo addictive and fun. I think it’s my childhood dream realised!!

Note: I am chasing a rather nasty deadline this week and I owe a few emails from the past few days…hang in there I will reply…I am procrastinating because I want to answer your emails properly!