new button ring!

seems i am on a roll at the moment... another button ring will soon be arriving has arrived in my etsy ... don't ask me where i have found the time, i actually have no idea!

the gherkin has recurring hives of an unknown cause, is no longer sleeping during the day unless cuddled to sleep, has had a horrendous cold and has cracked two new teeth, but still i am managing to find some button time. i think it has been much needed.... i am loving it, and i think coming up with some more lovely ones!

be back soon!
xo

thankyou blogland

Okay, so was out there catching up with some favourite bloggers this evening, and loving every second.

Seemed to be a bit of a theme tonight, finding out little gems about my favourite people and asking myself some questions along the way. I do love how blogland can change how I think, feel, interact with blogland and the "real world".

Thanks to the very lovely drewzel of blogportion i discovered 43things... and did the personality test. And discovered (not very surprisingly really) that I am a "spiritual romantic builder". I always love personality tests... love answering questions, thinking about what my answers might be...sometimes discovering things along the way. But here is where 43 things loses it for me... the next thing you have to do is to make a list (oh dear). While the list making works very well for some, for me, to make a list of my dreams and aspirations and to tick them off one by one... doesn't sound so romantic? But I am still interested enough to see if I can find the book (in a library) and voyeuristic enough to read about other people's goals, dreams, "things".

I have also spent this evening catching up with other favourite people who love to answer questions, via the fab interviews by the very lovely fairlie. Bundles of giggles, and so interesting to hear more about some people who I feel I know at least a little through the wonderful place that is blogland (and now feel I know that little bit better).

And this evening I have been getting teary reading some of your posts... some of you write so beautifully, and straight from the heart.

I am not a great writer, but still enjoy my little blogging life, and thank those of you who are out there for being fun, entertaining and open (and occasionally visiting here). Thankyou gorgeous people. It is sometimes a long time between visits, but I still love popping in. And hopefully in 2009 we will get to know each other even better.

Hope to catch up again soon xo

sometimes i wish i were smaller

sometimes i wish i were smaller, originally uploaded by summer pickles.

I do! Browsing around flickr whilst trying to get the boy to sleep I have been looking for inspiration for my new wardrobe*, and have found all of these gorgeous things. The only problem? They are all made for little girls...

I love the details, the fabrics, the colour! But sadly, not the fit (I wish I were smaller!) At any rate, they are gorgeous, stunning creations and will serve as inspiration for me as I search for, sew, restitch, borrow new post-gherkin clothes...

new stock in the shop!

teal rose jan 09
Originally uploaded by summer pickles

Just a brief advert everyone... in between managing the gherkin's recurring hives (we are going for alllergy testing in two weeks), I have been spending quality time with my button collection again..

My etsy store is now restocked!

Only three button rings at this stage, but more on their way...

[and there endeth the blatant plug!]

Have a gorgeous week... will be back again in the next couple of days.
xo

a little bit of navel gazing...

Hi again!

I have been involved in some heavy duty navel gazing over the past few days What do I want for me, my life, my little clan in 2009? What do I need to do to make this happen?

1. Appreciate the two boys in my life more:

the very lovely pickles boys

2008 was such a steep learning curve! In our three weeks away from home with family & friends over chrissie, sharing the cuddles with everyone else, I missed those quiet moments we are alone together. In 2009 I will savour those moments more. I will be kinder to my gorgeous hubby. In 2009, I just want to remember to be thankful for the amazing, strong, gentle, fabulous, hilarious man in my life... and to remind myself of this when he doesn't unpack the dishwasher...

2. Find time for myself.

3. Use what I have (or use stuff that's free). Yep, 2009 is Year of the Budget. In 2009 I will:

a) menu plan

b) skype whenever possible

c) only use the fabrics already in my stash, at least until Easter 2009!

I think this is all... so far! What are your hopes and plans for 2009???

Chat soon x

happy christmas, new year, etc etc!

Hi all!

Wow, what an amazing few weeks we have had in the pickles household! Full of friends, family, & crafting galore!!!

It all started with some panic crafting for our handmade <$5 christmas in the gran & pa pickles home in sunny nsw... all the gals got one of these:

This was the perfect crafty creation for me... no neat straight lines, no accurate cutting required, just loads of fun combining colours and fabrics... perfect! And I used all scrap fabrics and vintage or pre-loved buttons, which made me very happy! (nothing like the de-stash... which, by the way is my aim for the first half of this year - no new fabrics!). Which is your favourite brooch? I have a definite favourite, but I won't tell.... Some more brooches similar to these will soon be appearing in my etsy, so stay tuned...

Then, after these crafting adventures, I got onto snapfish and ordered a photobook for the grandparents. Soooo easy to use their templates, the book looked great, the photo colours came out well, and they had it delivered in time for christmas, in spite of my only ordering them on I think the 18th December... impressive! Oh, and the book was a hit... we managed to get tears from some family members - the exact result we were after!

martha stewart pom poms by summer pickles

Off to sunny nsw then, sydney via wagga, and to the gherkin's naming day (we didn't officially name him The Gherkin). We spent the night before making these gorgeous martha stewart tissue paper pom poms, which looked b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l in our garden ceremony and the following lunch. Again, these were pretty simple too... and looked just gorgeous. It was lovely to have the opportunity to celebrate (again) the little man's arrival and to do this with our dearest friends, and soo much fun to catch up with everyone's kids!!!

Then to Christmas, and all of the family celebrations, and the gherkin's first beach experience... yep, on seven mile beach (of course). However, it was very poorly planned, so, being the middle of Boxing Day, it was hot and sunny and windy (not a winning combination for our new redheaded baby's first trip to the beach!), we had a sprint onto the beach, a quick point and click and a sprint back to the car.... Fortunately we had more relaxing moments down at the beach in Ulladulla and in various parks and gardens in the south coast the following week.

(recognise this summer pickles quilt???)

Hoping you all had wonderful festive seasons, and thanks for stopping by in 2009!

Chat soon xo