And the Award goes to...

Hannah from Span's Stitchin' nominated me for these 2 awards. A big big thank you, Hannah, for these. It means alot to me that my little world should be so meaningful to you. The blog world is still relatively new to me and one that never ceases to amaze me when previous perfect strangers come into your life via it.

So the rules...

1) Put the award on your blog

2) Put a link on your blog of the blogger who gave you the award

3) Nominate 5 other bloggers

4) Leave a comment on their blog notifying them.

Also for the fabulous award I'm supposed to list 5 things that I'm addicted to so here goes:

1. Coffee - the real stuff - with warm frothed milk. I love my little ritual at 11 (earlier if it's a tricky day) of making my cafetiere, heating my milk, frothing it with my aerolatte and sitting down for an official coffee break. Come join me now.

2. Checking emails. When I was little I was obsessed with waiting for the post. Now it's emails. I can not walk past the computer without pressing the send/receive button. (Just snuck in another press now)

3. Notebooks and other stationery. Another addiction from childhood. It is impossible to walk past stationers. I have to go in, have a little stroke and convince myself that I really don't need more pens/notebooks/cards. And with internet shopping I don't even have to leave the house in order for something like this to pop in my shopping basket and arrive at the door, quicker than a flash.

4. Wine. I love wine. I crave wine. Please don't translate that as being an alcoholic. Just one glass is all I need. Most of the time it's just that first sip. I did go through a phase of having to have my evening glass. I now try very very hard (not always succeeding) to not open a bottle midweek. But come Fri night...Ok now I do sound like an alcoholic :-)

5. All of your blogs and many others I pass through along the way.

What a fabulous world we live in. And speaking of all your blogs, I need to nominate 5 of you out there. Yes, just 5. So here goes...

Manda from Treefall - a regular award winner, but there's always got to be one Kate Winslet in our lives.

Tara from Aquamarine - a new friend who has thankfully come into my life via this world

Heather from Lark & Lola - for providing us with beautiful eye candy and stunning writing.

Julie from Famille Summerbelle - for not only being so talented that I have gorgeous things to sell at Blueberry Park, but allowing us to travel the world vicariously, by following her amazing trip.

Lucy Jane Batchelor from Hello My Little Friend - another Blueberry Park fave, another talented lady, another site full of gorgeous things.

I'm off now to check my emails, make my coffee, and wait for Mr Postie to bring my gorgeous notebook. It's a bit early for addiction No. 4 - even for me. But I may just fit in a bit of No. 5...

Smile please...

Noah and Ruby are having their school photos today. I love seeing their little faces change over the years as the next photo comes in. This will be the first school photo with just Ruby and Noah though, since Samuel is no longer at the same school after his move up to High School. I have a thing about seeing the 2 little ones together - as I call them. Noah is completely different with Ruby than he is with his big brother. Noah feels VERY competitive in Samuel's company - ridiculous since he is 2 years younger. But from the minute he could get up and follow Samuel, he has tried to do just that. With Ruby it's very different and he is very sweet and a lovely big brother to her - most of the time. And their photo normally reflects this.

So in celebration of Noah and Ruby's smiley faces, here's a little montage of appliques that are all ready to go on a card order. Smile please, everyone :-)

A mere glimpse

My talented friend, Roz, has been helping me out with some new labelling for my Take Away Craft Kits. The final look is a million miles away from my original brief. But because Roz is so talented, she has taken on board everything I have said I wanted and come up with something I am so head over heels in love with that I can't wait to get it all finished, printed and posted on the boxes.

Illustrate My Name

I have recently been approached by a number of stockists to have one or other of my products with them. The latest was from Jodie who has a great website, aptly called Illustrate My Name. It's a great name and does 'what it says on the can'.

Jodie contacted me this morning to let me know that my Personalised Pictures are now up and running on there. I think she's done a great job and they look fab. Thanks, Jodie.

Soup or stew

This icy cold weather that we have been having just gets me wanting to make soup all the time. You can't beat a big bowl of a hearty meal in one. My soups normally consist of opening the fridge, seeing what's in there and chucking it all in together. I hardly ever follow a soup recipe. I decided to add beans and barley to this one. Real winter warmers.

I'm still not sure if it's soup or a stew.

Valentine's Day?

My customers are obviously at least one step ahead of me as I've already had an order for not only a Valentine's Card, but also a Mother's Day card. Have I gone to sleep and missed a month? I could swear it's only the beginning of January. After I got over the shock of realising that some people like to be prepared, I realised that this was a goodkick up my backside to get my designs finalised and out to the few retail outlets that I have.

I had given it no thought whatsever up until now, but with just over a month until the next card giving occasion, some may say I am getting a little bit late.

I used to be very organised. Old friends on Facebook have voted me as most organised friend. That makes me laugh, because since having children I am the most disorganised person I know. My Mum and sister despair of me. Actually to say I am disorganised isn't entirely true. What I am is unable to plan and think ahead. I function on the here and now and what is needed to get through today. Something that is happening in a month's time - forget it - it doesn't even enter my radar.

So hence the shock horrors of receiving orders for Valentine's Day. Maybe I should just forward my calendar 2 months. That way I'll always be ahead of the game. And just to be extra sure - Happy Valentine's Day - oh and have a great Mother's Day too!

Last day of the Holidays

I feel like I've been living in some parallel universe for the past 2 weeks. My usual routines have gone completely to pot. No crafting whatsoever. As for this blog, it has been well and truly abandoned. (I promise to update you on our goings on later in the week.) We have had such a great, relaxing break. Met up with some friends. Spent time just us. Been away for a few days. Enjoyed the gorgeous, crisp, winter weather. But now I'm ready to get back to normal. I've got a few exciting/scary prospects to contemplate and now want to be able to give them some undisrupted attention.

So last night was the last night of holiday. We've all really enjoyed each other's company this holiday, which isn't always the case. We've done a lot of hanging out just the 5 of us. Last night we had one final hanging out together to celebrate/acknowledge this before tomorrow, when everyone is back to school/work proper...