The Craft Room

I posted this over on the Craft Room blog too but for anyone that doesn't know about that blog we are starting up a Hills Craft Room.

Thanks to Fiona we have found somewhere to hold a North-West/Hills Craft Room in 2010. The Hills Craft Room will be held on the 1st Thursday of each month starting on 4th February from 7.30pm - 9.30pm

If you are interested in coming along contact me via email cassandra_ward (at) telstra (dot) com for location details.

We'd love it if you can come along.

On Friday Charlotte did a cooking class at Brasserie Bread. She had a fantastic time and if you are in Sydney it's well worth a look. The school holiday programme is only $30 for 2 hours and they even have free 1 hour workshops on Saturdays.
They made 4 goodies to take home - a large choc chip & sultana biscuit, an apple loaf which was absolutely divine
a pizza (that Charlotte and Lucy had for dinner) and a choc chip plait.

She's now decided she wants to cook a meal each week which I think is great but we'll see how long it lasts.

Today

is my birthday and although I am quite a bit older than this birthday girl it is lovely to share a birthday with one of my lovely blogging and now real life friends (and we are both left-handed too).

I feel very lucky to have Jeff in my life. He has given me two beautiful girls. I'm also lucky to have my mum and brother close by and my dad in my heart always. I also feel very lucky to have found a place in this wonderful crafting community and now have "friends" scattered across the country.

It's been a funny day, Charlotte is away and Jeff is working late and I spent the whole day at work. I came home to some lovely presents though. A gift voucher from here from Jeff, a Wii Fit from my mum and brother and some yummy chocolates from Lucy. With everyone else out my mum, Lucy and I had a yummy takeaway for dinner and I've been Wii Fitting and relaxing on the lounge tonight.

Yes that's a bear on my head (photo courtesy of Lucy)

Now I'm debating whether to get an Ipod Touch, any thoughts!

7

I can't believe it but my baby turned 7 today. I know it's a cliche but I just don't know where the years have gone, in two weeks she'll be starting Year 2, next thing we know it'll be the end of her schooling.

You are caring and considerate towards others, you are happy and always have a smile on your face, well most of the time.

You love creating and crafting and will happily sit for hours drawing/cutting/pasting. You have a bit of a short fuse and are very like me and we often clash so I'm sure there will be lots of door slamming in the teenage years, something to look forward to.

You are lovable, loving and loved by the whole family. I've loved watching you grow into the the wonderful girl you are today.

Holiday Mode

We've been having a great time over the holidays, although Jeff and I both have this gruesome cough. We haven't really ventured too far from the house, it's been in and out of the pool, playing the Wii, a couple of movies and a little bit of sewing.

Charlotte and I are taking 2 of her friends to the movies on Friday for her birthday so I made this little drawstring bags to put some goodies in. Hopefully the girls will be able to re-use them for their school readers this year as they need a bag this year.

Lucy's moving from child care to pre-school this year and she needs a library bag so the one on the right is for her. The other one is a new library bag for Charlotte as the one she has used for the last 2 years was looking very tired.

The lovely Belinda just nominated me for this. If anyone out there would like to nominate me too that would be fantastic.

2009 the year that was

I've seen this on a few blogs so I thought I'd do a recap of the year.

January
Saw the arrival of a beautiful quilt from my lovely friend Helen

February
Seemed to be bag month and quite a few were made, my favourite was this one

March
Was all about Mathildas Market and making, making, making in preparation.
April
In April an idea grew for a swap and lots of ou lovely bloggers decided it was a good idea and I think from memory about 40 signed up

May
Also seemed to be swap month. I participated in the Sheridan's Vintage Sheet Swap and the kids were in the Kids Mail Swap over at Pigeon Pair. I was also besieged with packages for the 10 items swap.

June
June was a busy month. The first Crafty Weekend away, Swap goodies all posted out around the country, plenty of sewing and the first Sunday Craft Room



July
3 years of blogging

August
The highlight of August was definitely the Stitches and Craft show. I lent a hand to Fi and Justine (while she battled a dodgy stomach), caught up with Nicole, Cathy & Louise, Belinda and finally got to meet some wonderful bloggers I'd been dying to meet for ages.


September
I participated in the Handmade Kids Challenge, did a market at school for Pink Ribbon Day and had another Crafty Weekend away.

October
October was all about preparing for the next Mathildas Market

November
The 1st saw the last Mathildas Market for the year. The rest of the month was turned over to buying fabric, Lucy's birthday and preparing for Christmas

December
Finally the year was over and of course it was all about Christmas and the kids.
Thanks so much for reading my blog throughout 2009. I don't know what 2010 will hold although it will involve getting fit, hopefully. I'm feeling in a bit of a rut about sewing to sell at the moment and am thoroughly enjoying just sewing for pleasure. I'm not sure what that will mean for me but I will still definitely be sewing and crafting through 2010.

Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hope you have a great night

I didn't get a chance to make the girls Christmas outfits so here they are in their New Year outfits.
They are ready to party!

The Aftermath

We had a fantastic Christmas this year. Lucy was really into it and kept running around asking when Santa was coming and squealed with delight when she opened every present. The girls got mainly small things this year, Santa trawled Ebay for vintage Polly Pocket which they loved, some lego, board games, books.

After I dropped a lot of hints Jeff got me a Wii which I really didn't think he would do, so needless to say it has been getting a workout.
I hope you and yours had a great day too. We're off here for a couple of days to see the Christmas lights. See you soon.

Merry Christmas

Yesterday I took the girls into the city for our annual "girls day". This time it was coupled with a trip to see Angelina Ballerina by the English National Ballet. It was absolutely beautiful, we had front row seats so Lucy got up to have a little dance every now and then. We took my mum as well as she loves going to the theatre and can't wait until she can take the girls.

Not that you can see it that well but Charlotte is wearing The Wrap Skirt from Wink Designs.
It's a great pattern and is easily made in a few hours. I made Lucy's at the last Craft Room and that was with LOTS of chatting!

Afterwards we had a lovely lunch in Myers and then went up to Santas Workshop to ride the train. Charlotte just made it under the height limit so this might be her last year.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, I hope Santa is good to you.

It's Christmas Time

Christmas is almost upon us so I thought I better show you some purchases I've made this year.

Firstly a couple of Lucy from the school Christmas concert, she kept everyone around us entertained with her dancing while we waited for it to start, then she took lots of photos of the fence.
Had to add these in as my blog is my home page and I don't want a pair of sneaky eyes spying my purchases.
First up some wash clothes, these are going to my brother-in-law and his partner wrapped around some soaps from Bec. They are very environmentally friendly so I also got them some toothbrushes from here. The girls are getting a mini one wrapped around 2 lovely Belle & Boo soaps from Lark (I wish I had been closer to go to the sample sale).
The these great crowns from Cam. Charlotte already has a cape but I am hoping to get time to whip Lucy up one.
These Belle & Boo prints picked up at Finders Keepers.
And lastly I have become a bit of a madwoman on Ebay lately purchasinf vintage Polly Pockets for the girls. We had a couple already and I went a bit overboard but I just showed Jeff and he thought they were great. I'm going to make up a play mat for them to go on.

I Have a Problem

My name is Cass and I'm a fabricaholic!

These fabrics arrived on my doorstep this morning, well actually shoved in the letterbox, I think the postie is getting sick of delivering packages to me.

Hushabye by Tula Pink

Paula Prass Laminated Cotton

Summer Soiree also by Paula Prass

They are all from Pink Chalk. I love buying from Kathy. The service is fantastic, she has great sales and quick delivery. These were ordered on the 26th November and arrived today which I think is pretty good especially at this time of year.

I have plans for the pink Hushabye, it's going to be a Christmas dress for Charlotte and the laminated cotton is going to be a backpack for Lucy for pre-school next year.

I think a bit of a fabric bank (oops that should be ban!) might be in order but don't hold me to it!

The Silly Season

The Silly Season has well and truly arrived at Snailblazer HQ. We have so many things on at the moment I barely have time to think. Yesterday the girls had breakfast with Santa, organised by our local Westfield. I was great Charlotte and Lucy had a ball and it was really well organised.

They also got their photo taken with Santa so I we will bypass the Santa photo this year.

We then headed in to Circular Quay to go on a Captain Cook Coffee cruise that Jeff and I won at a charity event at the races a few months ago.

The weather was great and the girls enjoyed themselves pointing out all the lovely boats and nice houses lining the harbour.

Fabric

My Home Ec order arrived today and now I'm kicking myself that I didn't order more. A few weeks ago they had a special free postage on all orders, this is what I got.Japanese apples in green and red

Echino cars & Denyse Schmidt

Wildwood from Erin McMorris

Yum

At the Craft Room on Sunday Bianca bought along some yummy sausage rolls she had made, so I decided to make some tonight. The recipe is in issue 10 of Mixtape (so pop over and buy it if you don't have it and buy Issue 11 while you are there, I'll wait until you come back).................

Now I don't think mine were as good as Bianca's but the girls gobbled them down and I even got a "they were lovely" from Jeff, high praise indeed. So if you get a chance make yourself a batch, you'll be off the store bought ones forever.

New fabrics

These lovely fabrics arrived today from Amy. I only ordered them on Thursday so that's superfast postage. Pop over and pick some up before it all disappears.

Mixtape

The lastest edition of Mixtape arrived on the doorstep yesterday. I love the new size. Now I just need to find a cool place to sit down and have a read.

School News

Charlotte had to take a toy belonging to their parent today for news and she decided to take my Chrissy doll. When she got home she asked me if she could play with it and disappeared into her room. She came out with a big grin on her face and showed me this.

She'd dressed her in some of the clothes from her Ruby doll she got from Jodie and they fit perfectly. There is now and order in for more clothes. Looks like I'll be sewing tiny little dresses this weekend.