tie

Not a lot of ties get worn round these parts. The big squirrel has a couple that come out for weddings and are worn under sufferance. This has probably increased their significance to the boys - Spencer in particular but also Benji. They love wearing shirts and often ask for a tie as well. So for Christmas they each got a tie. 

These boxes are often on sale - I think we picked these up for $6 each. Complete with tie, hankie and cuff links - an of course my favourite bit the box. Mum cut down the ties to make them the perfect size for the boys,

and added the all important velcro dots at the backs so they are effectively clip on ties. 

Perfect!

P & G

The somewhat elusive Mr P & Ms G are a crafty pair. Here is a little taste of their most recent creations.

 They named this bracelet the charmless bracelet with little charms they had picket up in their travels . I really like it.

But this one is the height of awesomeness!

 This is how it was packaged

 My new pin cushin - complete with a heap of extra large pins!

I love the fabric choice, the pot and most of all the flower details. 

 See - they are just so crafty! Thanks guys.

(they were also responsible for big ears)

nostalgic

 Sharing happy memories from my childhood with my own children 

Big Ears came to join Noddy at our home this Christmas

so now Noddy has his mate and my little mate and I can share boiled eggs and dippy soldiers as I used to when I was young. 

sew...its christmas day

This year Santa didn't deliver anything for me to wear on christmas day so out came the machine for an emergency whip up. 

I had bought this fabric at darn cheap (glenhuntly) recently. It is a knit and the panel is around 80cm wide. At $6.95/m. At $6.95 not a huge investment. 

(As a side this is our traditional brother and sister christmas tree photo - I must be in a bit of a rush as I am holding the TV remote!! Weird)

 Basically what I did was:
1. Cut small slit between panel repeats to form head hole. This was turned under and hemmed.
2. Folded in half and sewed two side seams. I left a gat at the tops for the armholes.
3. Hemmed the armholes.
4. Made a quick casing for some elastic around the bottom and put in on.
then I cut off the threads!!

Virgo Escape!

Sometimes I cannot control my inner virgo. She is often bubbling not far from the surface - but other times she just explodes. This time of year, the traditional time of lists (even santa writes one) and resolutions is a tough time for her.

Case in point:


This was todays production. An update for my christmas book. Yes, I already have one but this one is better - on the computer and with pictures. See - cant control her. I have gone around and photographed all of our decorations, cataloged what I have and where they will be stored. Also a list of some of our traditions, some of the things we did and other things to remember. I will put it in my christmas folder for next year.
I know it is really tragic but it really helped this year and made for a much smoother running festive time. The original idea for this is from flylady.net and this is my way of tailoring it a little.
Hope you are getting over christmas!!

Merry Christmas

From our lot to you - Merry Christmas and may the new year be healthy happy and bright.
From Us at the squirrel lodge

the night before

 One of our traditions is a new pair of PJs on christmas eve. I always think about these most of december, but notoriously end up leaving it to the last minute. This year I was at a bit of a loss what style to go with - but I had a range of cotton in spots which I had earmarked for shirts, but was a little desperate so went with it. My darling mum actually whipped up three pairs of shorts while I was off christmas visiting.
I had bought three white tshirts (from big w) with the idea of decoration them. I suggested to the boys that I could applique a tie on them, but they wanted something a little more formal. So I was straight of to How About Orange to get her pdf of this tuxedo front.
I used the silhouette for both the orange and the blue versions as I had some tshirt transfer so these were actually quick and easy. Alexander's were a different colour so I used tshirt transfer paper - but the one for dark tshirts. This actually is a white film which you print onto and then peel off and iron onto the shirt. I adjusted the colour to match his shorts and simply printed it through my regular printer. Then I used my low tech scissors and cut around the edge. The transfer is also on the white of his shirt - unlike the twins - but it is all white so there is no issue. In record time I had three happy boys - who don't want to take these tops off!

 Now the stockings are hung, the lights are on, the cookies are made and out and little boys tucked up in bed waiting for the big man in the red suit to visit.

Merry Christmas