Who's In?

So I have lost my craft mojo.  It has been missing in action for about the last 10 months.  Time to get it back.

I came across this:



So I am setting myself a challenge.  To complete all 101 Simple Handmade Gifts within the next year.

Who's In???

Join me every few days in complete this tutorials.  They all look pretty simple, hence the title "101 Simple Handmade Gifts" and for those of you with kids who are already shaking in the boots with the thought of what to do on the Xmas holidays - here is your answer.

The first is  Chalkboard Necklaces.  Very cute and a great little present for my daughters school friends.






So if you are joining in lets get this baby done by the weekend (5th November) - email me your photos of the finished product (info@shimi.com.au) and we will display your works of art on Beautiful Creations.

Yah, how exciting.

Jen and Row
www.shimi.com.au

Ragdoll cats

I am feeling rather weary today.  It has been a hot day, and the kids and I have been at home all day, which sounds relaxing but can be rather exhausting when trying to keep them entertained.  It has been nice nevertheless.  I am shamelessly going to blame my tiredness on my cats.  We love them dearly but they are such monsters and are dirty stop outs.  One work me at 3 in the morning to be let out (toilet break) and the other woke me at 3.30 to let in.  We don't normally let our cats stalk the streets at night, but that was the night that was.

Our cats are RSPCA survivors which we adopted about 10 years ago when they were only 6 weeks old.  I think that we will always be RSPCA supporters and only ever adopt animals that aren't lucky enough to have a pedigree but it doesn't stop my yearning for a Rag Doll Cat. 

Our cats, whilst affectionate on "their" terms are not lap cats, and after growing up with a cat always on my lap as soon as I sat down, I really miss that.  Now I have two children constantly on my lap so I shouldn't complain, but patting a cat is a great stress release and it would be nice if my two would be obliging occasionally. 

I always remember my Grandmother working on whatever Handmade item she had taken an interest in, be it embroidery, crocheting or knitting in "her" chair with her tiny Burmese Cat permanently on her lap.  Nick named "The Brown Bomber" by my father she hated everyone except my Gran, but she was very cute.  One day......

Tassles

Whilst I am not a fan of Tassels per say, I found these little gems quite enticing. Found in the September Issue of Burda (my absolute favourite magazine) I am determined to make these and ingest a little colour into my life.

Great for a kids toy room, full of life and vibrancy, these simple to make decorations can easily pull a room together. Although these colours look fantastic with a more middle eastern theme, you could easily change the colours to pastels or bright primary colours that children so love.

They would make a great present as well, even for a child. My children have hours of enjoyment with "cheerleader" tassels made from plastic, but of course it always ends in tears with a tassels being flicked in someones face. These material tassels would be much more soft then the plastic variety, and would still give the kids hours of enjoyment. Have some other great ideas - email us at info@shimi.com.au. http://www.shimi.com.au/

Made or rather bought - with LOVE!

Mother's Day is only a few days away. I live interstate from my Mum, so when Mother's Day comes around, I always wish that I could simply have a cup of tea with my Mum.. It would be so good to sit, laugh and talk face to face.

Since having children of my own, I have a new found love of this special day.
My eldest son, Zac is in Prep. During the week they had a Mother's Day market at school. He was so excited to be choosing something for me all on his own.
On the day that he purchased my gift, he made me stay away from his school bag and away from his room while he hid the present. (He has since made me promise not to look under his bed. ha - too funny)!
I don't think I have ever been more curious or more excited about a gift in my life. It really is true that the money factor in a gift is not what counts. Its the love and thought that matters.
My husband said that when Zac told him what he had bought and the reason why he chose it, he was fighting back tears - as the thought behind it is simply gorgeous.
So, I am counting my sleeps until I sit and listen to Zac's story and gratefully receive my gift of love. xx

Cute Cards

I have come across this great on-line store call Mondo Cherry - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5194125

They make the cutest cards (among other things), and the reason really struck a cord with me.  I have a house FULL of books, and come from a house with every wall adorned with bookshelf full of books, of all different genre.   Both of my parents are huge readers, and apart from a brief spell of rebellious ignorance, I LOVE to read (although with two little ones, I am more prolific with under 5 year old books, then anything else).  Thankfully my two little ones also love to read (and I am trying to encourage my husband, who is more in touch with pop culture then I would like, to become ONE OF US).  My smallest usually wakes quite early and instead of waking us up (bless him), with plop himself before the bookshelf and read (aloud) until we are all awake.

However with little ones, and life in general, books don't always remain in immaculate condition.  Although this is life, it also saddens me to see this, and the girls from Mondo Cherry obviously feel the same as they have made these little cards from books that are a little more then worse for ware.  

It is lovely to see this sort of creativity in such a disposable world.