Life's Journey

My One Word

2012-01-04T11:04:00.004+10:00

Well, I hope everyone had a lovely and safe and blessed Christmas and New Years :)

Anyone doing New Years Resolutions? I'm not..I can never stick to them, but I have found something else that is much more manageable, My One Word.

Basically, all you do is choose one word that you are going to strive towards for the whole year...I'm not very good at explaining things, but have a look at the My One Word website for all the details. There you will find all the help and support you need from choosing your one word, to sticking to it for the whole year.

So what is my One Word for 2012?

DEVOTED

My aim is to become more devoted to my God, through the reading of His word, talking to Him and listening for His still, small voice in my everyday activities...becoming devoted enough to hear Him and say "yes" to whatever He asks me to do.

To be more devoted to Daniel, my husband. To love him as God would have me love him - unconditionally. To respect him and to show loving kindness and patience towards him...to listen to him and make him number one, after God, in my life. I want to be a devoted wife, so I plan to work hard at that this year.

To be more devoted to my children, Natalie and Angella. To make sure I spend more time playing with them, and making sure that they know that they are very much loved. I want to devote more time to teaching them about the Lord and His word and His ways...teaching them to say "yes" to anything that the Lord asks them to do...teaching them how to hear their heavenly Father's still small voice.

So there you have it. My One Word for 2012 is:

DEVOTED.

I would love to know if you join in with My One Word, and I would love to know what word you choose for 2012. Go on, give it a go, your one word could be the word that changes your life forever!

Much Love

Suse

♥♥♥

Hold onto your seats people...

2011-12-22T22:07:00.001+10:00

I scrapped!!!!

Yes, I know, it's been a while, but I enjoyed the process of the first Layout so thoroughly that I just had to squeeze a second layout into my day :) I hope you enjoy and please excuse the bad pic of the second LO, I took it just before at night because I was too excited to wait for the morning to share :)

"An Ouma's Love"

"You can be"

Also, I just wanted to share a couple of Christmas collages of photos I took of the girls today...the first one is of all the funny pics before I got any good ones...

How funny are these two monkeys? Love Angi trying to copy Natti's face pulling abilities...Natti's are second to none and apparently keeps everyone at school entertained with her little "talent".

And here are the good ones I got...

To be totally honest...I love all the photos, even the silly ones because it just shows the true nature of my fun-loving girls.

Anyway, I hope you all have a Wonderful Christmas and a blessed new year...remembering that JESUS is the reason for the season!

God Bless

Suse

♥♥♥

"Mary"

2011-10-15T14:33:00.000+10:00

I just wanted to do a quick share about Natti.

This last week at her school they have had "Creative By Design" week, and it has been full on! I won't go into all the details, but I just wanted to show you a pic of Natti all dressed up as Mary, mother of Jesus for her culminating bible character parade...

I remember being Mary for our preschool nativity play when I was the exact same age, and funnily enough, Natti and I almost look exactly alike in our costumes!

I made her costume, along with a pink version for her BFF, and another one for another child in her class (I am a bit of a sucker LOL). She loved it, and she keeps wanting to dress up in it all the time.

Although, I am very glad this week is over, there was so much going on and so many things to attend, I know she had a blast and will remember it for a while yet :) And the costume will come in handy for when Angi reaches prep...they do this creative by design week every year...one less costume I will have to make :)

WAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

2011-10-10T13:12:00.003+10:00

I am so sad and upset!!!!

Our puppy Lula has a habit of escaping the fence, so on the weekend hubby and I checked the perimeter and blocked off all escape routes, so today I just had to make sure she was not still escaping...so, about an hour ago, I went to the door to call her, and I thought she had escaped again as she was not coming...then all of a sudden she bolted round the side of the house, looked at me, then looked behind her, then bolted back again...somthing was up.

So I ran to the window on that side, opened it up and just screamed..."BAD DOG!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!"

What did I see?

She had her mouth over the back of Tilly (Angi's white chook) and was about to go for Lolly as well! As soon as I yelled at her, she let go and bolted...Tilly ust lay there! At first I thought she was dead...poor Lolly was inspecting her. I ran outside...lucky for the dog she disappeared...who knows what I would have done :( On closer inspection Tilly is still alive, but I think both her wings may be broken. she is very still and just sitting in the box I found for her. *SOB*

Here she is...all you chook lovers, please tell me what you think? My brothers girlfriend who has grown up around chooks is on her way here as I type to have a look as well...

To make matters worse, Tweetie, the black one (my other daughters chook) was missing...I rang hubby and sobbed to him on the phone...then went to look for Tweetie...but not long into the search Angi found her safe and sound...thank goodness!!!! So all chooks accounted for, even if one is damaged :'(

I'll keep updating on what we do with poor Tilly...I really don't want to have to put her down...she may be a scoundrel, but we all love her ♥

*edited to add: Tilly is doing fine...nothing broken, just a couple f bite marks and sore feathers and a lot of shock...poor girl. She is back to her usual naughty self now, and she is even still laying the ocassional egg...something I certainly did not expect after her ordeal...chooks are tough little critters!

Finally...a garden update!

2011-10-01T13:23:00.000+10:00

Okay, be prepared, this post is photo heavy!

Seeing as it is such a lovely day today we thought it would be perfect for mowing the grass (thanks babe ♥). We have so much clover and onion weed growing at the moment, we just got sick of looking at it!

The front always looks so much better when the clover has been mowed down :)

The Calendulas and the seaside daisy's are in full bloom...don't they just look so cheerful? I wake up to this sight every morning as they are right outside our bedroom window...always makes for a lovely start to the day. Just glorious!

Love this shot of a lone calendula...Calendula's are known for their amazing healing properties...and I have tested this using calendula ointment on my youngest daughters nappy rash when she was a baby...cleared it up within the day (and it was really bad too!)...but I think calendula's are also a good healer of the heart and soul...just looking at their intricate beauty makes me feel better :)

And it looks like the chooks have found the flower bed...they are loving the chrysanthemum petals...

The september lillies (the variagated versions) have started flowering too...aren't they just sublime?

The daffodil bulbs I planted a couple of weeks ago have sprouted...

My girls are sprouting up too...growing way too fast for my liking!

Veggies are doing pretty good as well...

Lula is still an "in your face" kinda doggie LOL

Although she does show a little bit if restraint with the chookies around now (still have to watch her though...she gets jealous if you pick a chook up....then she tries to snatch it out of your hands!)

Here you can tell how bad our clover problem is...really need to get into that garden bed and rip the stuff out, but it is getting a bit too hot at the moment...or I am just feeling lazy LOL

and last, but not least...I have finally managed to nurture a rose to bloom!!!!!!

I have three rose plants left (after the dog destroyed the fourth - thorns are no deterant!)..and this is the only one that has budded and started to bloom...the others are all still alive and growing green leaves, but no new shoots or buds...this gardening thing requires so much patience...and I don't ave too much of that...I guess I will just have to learn some!

The Delighted Blythe

2011-09-30T06:36:00.000+10:00

I know I know...another dolly post...I promise I will do a garden progress one this afternoon...thinking I need to start another blog just for the dolly posts...what do you think?

I just wanted to let you know that I have opened up a new Etsy store from which I will be selling my handmade Blythe clothes and accessories...which is a bit fun...

The Delighted Blythe

I will be adding some listings sometime today, so keep an eye out :)

I have also started a new Facebook page, so people can can come and say hi, and generally join in with some blythe fun...

The Delighted Blythe on Facebook

I am trying to get my vanity URL for this and I need at least 25 likers, so please come along and join in the fun...I will be doing competitions and all sorts of fun things...

Sewing for dollies...

2011-09-29T08:10:00.000+10:00

yup, another dolly post, sorry for those not interested in them, I promise I will post a veggie garden progress post tomorrow...

but I just had to share, I sewed my VERY FIRST dolly outfit for Chai last night...it was super easy and super fun...and I think I did an alright job for my first time...what do you think?

I think she pulls Aqua off rather nicely...I just wish I could pull a headband off as well as she does ;)

Here she is inspecting the calendula's...it's a jungle out there in the garden...most of the flowers are taller than she is.

It brings back fun childhood memories for me, growing up in South Africa, and sometimes my dad got a bit busy during school exam time to mow the lawn (he is a teacher). The grass would be so tall and I would play with my barbies in the long, tickly grass, pretending they were on a jungle expedition...ah, sweet summer playtimes.

Do you have any favourite summertime memories from your childhood? I would love to hear about them :)

Oh my giddy Aunt!

2011-09-27T21:28:00.000+10:00

Look what turned up at the post office this arvo...

Could it possibly be??? Could it really? Surely not, I only paid on Friday, and it is now Tuesday...but the box is post marked Seoul Korea...could it be?

Oh my golly gosh it is!!!! SHE IS FINALLY HOME! and I barely had to wait 4 days! Seriously, Auspost should take a leaf out of this book!!!

I was so excited, I had to get a pic with her still all Mint and in the box...at least Natti is getting some photography practice LOL.

Slowly getting all the plastic off, so as not to damage her or the box..."Please, get me out, I want to meet everyone properly!"

Oh gosh...LOVE ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Meet "Chai" my very first Blythe girl, a Cassiopeia Spice, and is she not glorious???

I named her "Chai" for the following reasons...

She kinda looks like my mum...

My mum LOVES Chai latte's and Chai tea...

She is a Cassiopeia SPICE (the doll, not my mum LOL)...

I think she looks cinnamony...

therefore, Chai came to mind :)

What do you think?

I love her I love her I really really love her!

I think I have fallen hard for these gorgeous dolls...now just have to think of a way to get hubby to understand that I do love them...and it is not that weird, really...

She even helps me with my Facebook market nights...

*SIGH*

I am so happy with her ♥

and the addiction to all things Blythe begins!

My secret is out!

2011-09-23T09:56:00.000+10:00

Okay...I have been keeping a very big secret! Some of you may now know what it is...others will probably have no clue at all...but I am about to tell you all...please be nice...

I LOVE dolls! There I said it!

I was so excited to have girls so I could buy dolls for them (so I could play with them LOL), but when Natti didn't play with the many that I got her, I was bitterly disappointed...she just doesn't play with them. She tries to and occasionally I catch her playing with them, but really, she is not interested.

Then Angi started being interested in them...but she only really likes itty bitty little dolls and critters. At least that is something.

I had always wanted a lovely dolls house, but what was the point if my girls were not interested? Our Pastor and his wife picked up on my longing for a dolls house and surprised me one day with this gorgeous blue dolls house and furniture all the way from England...they had secretly bought it just for me! I love it and cherish it.

But I have decided that I can no longer hide my love for dolls anymore. I have told family and friends, and most, not all, but most, think I am a bit nuttso...nevermind, I am me, and I love dolls.

Now if you follow Janelle Wind and her daughter Emily's blogs you will know that they also love dolls...not just any dolls, but BLYTHE dolls in particular. I have been reading Janelles blog now for a long time and I remember when these gorgeous girls came along into their lives, and I remember thinking how pretty they were...well, I couldn't stand it any longer...I joined a doll forum that Janelle and Emily frequent (no I am not stalking them LOL) called We play with dolls and started researching and drooling over pictures of gorgeous customised dollies and cute handmade dolly clothes...I just had to have one!

They are not cheap...they range from about $75 to $1800 for real Blythe girls...but there are also much cheaper clones that you can get...I have bought a cute little clone which is on it's way home right now...but I really, really wanted a real one.

So today, I purchased my VERY FIRST REAL BLYTHE! Here she is...isn't she gorgeous?

(Stock photo, not my own)

She will soon be on her way home to me...she is just so pretty...and don't you just LOVE her camera? Actually, looking at her with the blue eyes, she looks a bit like my mum, especially with that camera in hand!

So now you all know my little secret...I love dolls..I love Blythe...I'm just a big kid really.

Are there any other Blythe lovers out there? If so, what Blythes do you have in your little family?

My cushions

2011-09-16T13:22:00.000+10:00

Well, I finally got around to sewing up the new cushion covers for our informal living area...once again going with the Aqua and Red theme, I made 4 different sized cushions...

I added a vintage looking doily I found at my local op shop to the smallest aqua one.

And here is my favourite corner again, this time with my favourite new cushion added to the mix...

What do you think?

It is the first day of school holidays for Natti (it is a bonus that Angi goes to the kindy that is part of Natti's school, so she gets to go on holidays too)...and what a glorious day it has been indeed (other than the little screamfest Angi dished up at the start of sleep time that is)...

The sun is shining down upon our little patch of earth producing smiles and good moods all round (mostly)...The girls spent most of the morning eating fruit and playing together nicely, and now that Angi is in bed, Natti has the chance to play with some of her new birthday pressies that are not allowed to come out while her little sister is awake...mostly her crafty goodies, like beads and sticky tile mosaics...

Speaking of which...here is my little crafty girl...

Wearing her newly beaded up necklace, isn't she a sight!

I cannot believe that this Sunday the 18th of September, she will be a big 6 year old! She makes me so happy (most of the time)...she is growing up into such a loving, caring and sensitive little lady who loves her Father God with all her heart (and teaches her mummy new things about our heavenly Father often). She feels for those she loves furiously and with all her being...

She is Incredible!

and her mummy is a proud mumma who loves her more than she could ever comprehend!

EGGCITED!!!!!

2011-09-14T09:13:00.001+10:00

yup...that's right...I am pretty sure all 3 of our chookies are now laying...above is the collectings from the last 3 days, and as you can see, all different colours and sizes.

Pretty sure the light brown one is from Lolly, My ISA brown. The middle whiter one is from Tilly, the White leghorn, and the dark smaller one is from Tweetie, the Black Australorp.

Lolly, I think, has been laying on and off for the last week and a half...she is not very regular at all LOL and she tends to try and bury her eggs. Tilly dropped her bundle on the coop floor while she was eating...obviously she has no clue what a nesting box is for...she has laid just this one egg. And Tweetie has been hanging around the nesting box for a day or two, not venturing out to free range in the afternoons at all, and hers was just found by miss Angi this morning...still warm.

All those chicken lovers out there...please let me know your thoughts. I am not a seasoned chicken pro...these are just observations made on my part from what I have been witnessing and researching myself :)

Yeah, yeah, I know...

2011-09-12T18:06:00.001+10:00

Two posts in a day...maybe I am trying to catch up from all the blogging I missed last week...

Or...

I just wanted to show you my little bit of creativeness that I came up with today...what do you think?

(Yes, that is my hubby and myself on our wedding day almost 8 years ago now :)

I am just excited that I had a spare moment to be creative. I haven't had much time or the "mojo" for creativeness lately...so I am pleased it is coming back.

This is my new favourite corner of the living area...just love it...

(the tissue pompoms are leftover from Natti's party...I couldn't bear to pull them down just yet)

and when my matching cushions are complete I will be most happy indeed.

Can you tell I have a penchant for the red and aqua combo? And can you tell I have a thing for spots?

It is just nice to have a change in "scenery" every now and again.

Oh yes, I got the inspiration for the craft hoop wall hangings from this clever lady :)

Natti's 6th birthday party

2011-09-12T10:49:00.000+10:00

Well, the reason for my quietness all last week, as I explained in my last post, was Natti's 6th birthday party. She doesn't turn 6 until the 18th of September...but seeing as that is the first weekend of holidays, and her best friend left for LAS VEGAS (!!!) yesterday for a little holiday with her mum and dad, we held it on the 10th.

It was really lovely. She didn't invite a huge number of friends (at this point in prep, I am very proud of her for only inviting friends that she plays with, and not the entire class, like some kids do)...so, including herself and her sister, and a couple of friends from church there were only 13 of them for a fun afternoon in the sun at our house.

She wanted a woodland themed birthday party (!), so I had to come up with some woodland themed decorations and cake supplies...not an easy task at all! But as you can see from the photos, I did manage to get a few bits and pieces together to go with the theme.

She had a ball, and didn't get inundated with so many gifts that she didn't know what to do with them...there have been some years where she just got so much we had to give away a whole lot of older toys to make room, but this time, she got some lovely little gifts from her closest friends...and everything she received were things she is really into. Lovely.

I completely over-catered (again)...I just cannot seem to get it right at all...but at least we now have enough fruit to last us 2 weeks and the fridge is stocked with yummy treats and lunchbox snacks.

Now, away from party talk...those of you who own chooks...when you let them out to free range, HOW ON EARTH do you get them back into the coop without running around after them like a mad woman for half an hour?

I let our girls out for the first time today, with the dog chained up (I have another question about that, butI will save it for another day)...and my Isa Brown, Lolly, was easy, I just got some feed in my hand and she came straight to me, when I put my hand on her back she squated and let me pick her up (I think she may be my laying girl at the moment because of this).

The White leghorn (Tilly) and the black Australorp (Tweetie) wouldn't come near me (I now understand why the old coot who sold them to me said I would regret the white and black...I'll only be getting browns next time I think)...so, any suggestions and help would be great...I had them locked in the coop for 2 weeks so they would understand it was home...help! LOL...I think the workmen over at the neighbours place thought I was a crazy loon LOL.

Looky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-09-10T20:38:00.000+10:00

Yup...We got our first egg last week (sorry, been really slack with the blogging...we've had a birthday party to plan and execute since last time).

I have no idea which of our chookies laid this little beauty...but it really took us by surprise. We were told another 3 weeks before they would start to lay, and at first I thought my hubby had played a little trick on us, but it only weighed 46 grams, so I knew it wasn't one of our store bought ones.

We got another one on the 4th of September...then hubby moved the coop as the grass was all scratched out, and no more little eggies until this morning.

I used this one in some of the baking for the party...it was so cute, perfectly formed and a tiny little "butter yellow" yolk. I have never seen such a yellow yolk before in my life.

So looking forward to these featuring regularly in our everyday lives :)

Well, I am shattered, we had Natti's 6th birthday party today...was up til 11pm last night decorating the birthday cake, then up early decorating cupcakes and cleaning and getting the house ready. I will do another post probably Monday about the party...it was a lot of fun :)

Looking forward to checking for another egg in the morning...but I am off to bed...I am TIRED!

Just so you know...

2011-08-31T14:27:00.000+10:00

Puppies may be cute as all get out...

But this particular puppy (our Lula) is not very friendly towards my garden and pot plants...

I will not traumatise you with photos of some of the things she has done to my poor, poor plants...but let's just say, quite a few have now gone to plant heaven thanks to this cute (but ever so naughty) puppy dog!

This weeks bakes

2011-08-30T10:40:00.000+10:00

I have been baking again, some new recipes I found in blog world, and I thought they sounded so yummy that I just had to give it a try!

On the left is a Date loaf, and you can find the recipe here over at Gooseberry Jam.

And on the right is Orange cake, and you can find the recipe here also at Gooseberry Jam

Just a note though if you are going to bake these delicious goodies...they need more time than the recipe says.

The recipe calls for a "moderate" oven - so 160 degrees C (fan forced) and 40 mins (date loaf) and 35 mins (orange cake)

they both ended up needing about 45 minutes or so (but that might be because I baked them together at the same time...so if you are doing them separately, stick to the recipe).

I am also going to be making the Orange Icing for the Orange cake, which you can find the recipe for on the same page.

Well, they smell DIVINE! So I think I am going to go and have a warm slice of date bread slathered with butter....and some tea :)

Progress report and some new feathered family members

2011-08-29T13:21:00.000+10:00

Sorry for no weekend updates...but the weather on Saturday was simply MISERABLE! You can see here what the valley looked like when it had stopped raining for about 30 seconds...it rained and poured ALL day long!

and in all this rain, the girls and I decided it was time to go and get our new feathered family members...3 of them in total (for now)...

Meet "Tweetie" (Natti's black australorp), "Tilly" (Angi's White leghorn)...and "Lolly" (My Isa Brown) who did not want her photo taken LOL.

And they now live in this lovely home (on Acreage) which we have borrowed from our neighbours (the ones with the dam in the first photo), as their one last chook is too afraid to live in it because a fox came and ate all her friends (the neighbours didn't lock them up at night). She now lives in a plant pot right outside their bedroom window, thus we were given the go ahead to borrow her old house :)

They are a bit shy, and don't like to come aywhere near any of us at the moment, but that's okay...they need to get used to their new home and owners.

On the garden front, the girls and I planted a bunch of seeds, and look what has popped up, and a week or so before they were supposed to (must have been all that rain and then the glorious sunshine we've had for the last 2 days)...yup, these are Zucchini seedlings...

...and some Broccoli seedlings in the toilet rolls (we are just trialling this technique at the moment)...

Some Dwarf Sunsation sunflowers in a lovely pink pot :)

and this gorgeous Chrysanthemum, which I thought was unrecoverable after Lula got hold of it, has started flowering again...isn't it gorgeous?

I also thought you might like to see how our tabletop veggie garden is going. With all the rain and the brilliant sunshine it is going great guns...especially the peas in the second pot...they must just love the rain!

In my garden

2011-08-22T11:59:00.000+10:00

I thought I would show you a few of the things that are growing and flowering in my garden at the moment...so, please, do enjoy :)

One of my gorgeous orange Calendula, that we planted straight in the bed from seed (don't know how it grew in the soil it was put in...sooo dry!)...being pollinated by some little buzzy creature...love the shapes of the petal ends :)

A bright, fresh yellow calendula alongside it's "bedfellows" the tiny chrysanthemums...love this combo...I can see the whole row of them from by bedroom window :)

I love this shot...especially loving the dark petal tips of the pale yellow calendula.

A bright orange calendula, just about to bloom...

The garden bed along the top of the front rock wall...it is directly in front of our bedroom window...awesome flowers to wake up to every morning (oh, and my doggy Lula snuck into this shot too...heeheehee).

I love a cute garden ornament or two (although, gnomes I could take or leave LOL)...my mum gave me this one, and I just love it...however, so do the ants...there is an ants nest in it now LOL.

My mothers day present from my youngest monkey, Angi, was this cute metal garden ant. Goes to show what happens when daddy just lets the kids loose on The reject shop and says choose something for mum LOL...I do like it though :)

Love Gazanea's. They flower and flower and flower...make great groundcover, are gorgeous in flower, and they just survive ANYTHING!!! so in love with the stripy Tiger Gazanea's.

And I just really liked this shot...

What is flowering in your garden at the moment?

mmmm...what is that yummy smell???

2011-08-19T15:39:00.000+10:00

I did not get a call for relief teaching work today. But that worked out rather well, as Miss Natti has ended up sick, and after sending her to school all week, and her just not picking up, I decided she needed to stay at home and rest up (which, as an almost 6 year old, she is really struggling to do. I am finding the only way to get her to lie down and rest is to put her in front of the TV). Poor little thing. Last night her face was so puffy it looked like she had been crying for hours, even though she hadn't. So a day off was definitely in order...she has not taken a day off since she started her prep year in January (well done little chicken)...but we don't want to spread this one around I think.

The other bonus of staying home today is I can get some baking done for the weekend. I used to do this all the time, but had slacked off a lot in the last year or so. The house smells like a warm bakery at the moment. And all because of these...

yummy Jam drops and a super fresh loaf of homemade bread (from scratch..yeah, that's right...from scratch...I feel so accomplished LOL)

My jam drops turned out rather crumbly though, so I am on the hunt for a new recipe...they do taste delish though.

So we now have fresh bread for lunch tomorrow, and jam drops for, well, the rest of the time LOL.

Well, best be off to tend to the sick chicken...stay well folks.

Much love
Suse
♥♥♥

Eco-friendly

2011-08-18T10:07:00.000+10:00

I LOVE Zarraffa's!

For those of you who don't live in Queensland and don't know what Zarraffa's is...it is this --->

Yup...take-away coffees and such...oh so delicious...well, actually, I always get the hot chocolate (with cream and marshmallows for indulgence).

and I must confess, I have at LEAST 3 - 4 of these a week. Monday mornings are always a good time, and sometimes on a Friday if I am not working relief teaching. Then On a wednesday morning I go to my drive thru Zarraffa's for another hot chocolate fix on the way to Angi's swimming lessons, and then again on a wednesday afternoon when I have a "coffee" catch up with my mum (I really hope hubby doesn't read this...he would KILL me LOL).

So I drink a lot of these, and I realised, that I use at least that many paper cups each week as well, which all end up in land fill...that is a lot of cups over the months that are wasted and NOT helping the environment.

So I bought one of these...

It is a double insulated, ceramic travel thermal with a safety lid. Perfect for having a cuppa on the run. And most take away coffee places with put your chosen hot (or cold) drink into your travel mug if you give it to them when you pay! All you have to do is remember to take it with you and wash it out when you get home again...no more paper cups going into landfill because of me.

So this is just one of the ways I am trying to be a little more eco-friendly. You can buy these babies just about anywhere...try Loot, Robins Kitchen, King of Knives (any kitcheny type store)...you can even get them at the reject shop(!). My one was from Loot and it cost me $17...but you can shop around and score a cheaper one of you like. I like the ceramic...makes me feel a little more civilised, and I use mine at home too.

What are some ways that you are trying to be more eco-friendly? I would love to know your ideas and tips on this subject as I am trying to make our home and lives more friendly to our precious environment...afterall, I want my kids to be able to enjoy this beautiful planet as they grow up as well.

Much love

Suse

♥♥♥

An old friend

2011-08-16T13:21:00.000+10:00

I met up with an old friend late last night (read early this morning)...this friend has always been faithful, always there when you need it the most. This friend asks no questions, tells no lies, and most of all just listens.

This friend came out last night, as my youngest daughter Angi woke up at about 3am, coughing her little lungs up and I had not had any sleep myself as I am not that well either...looking after 2 sick chickens takes it's toll on this mother hen (Yes, Natti has been unwell too, poor babies)...

Would you like to meet this wonderful friend? Well, here she is...

That's right...vick's Baby Balsam...oh how I love thy soothing effect on my little ones.

This friend helped to clear up Angi's cough and fast rid her of the dreaded "Snot Bubbles".

Yes, this friend is an old friend, but truly, an old friend like this one is worth a million.

Hope you are all keeping healthy.

Much Love

Suse

♥♥♥

A weekend spent in the garden

2011-08-15T13:40:00.000+10:00

We had a most wonderful weekend. Most of it was spent outdoors in the glorious (almost springtime) sunshine.

We started off the weekend by going out on a little boating expedition with my parents. but that story is maybe for another day ;)

With the boating fun behind us it was time to tackle some gardening must do's and some fencing. While hubby was working on dog proofing our property to keep young Lula in (she has a tendency to bolt up the hill, disappear and not come when she is called) with our neighbour, the girls and I spent a lovely afternoon playing in the sun with our neighbours and their kids. It was a lovely day indeed.

Sunday I set to weeding one of our front garden beds...and oh my, did it need it. I pulled so much clover out of that bed, along with some other nasties, and got it looking lovely again. Only problem is that I still have not learned which plants are the ones that keep flowering, or at least stick around to flower again, and which plants flower profusively and then die...so I had LOTS of gaps from the ones that had died...so the girls and I took a lovely little trip to bunnings and came back with so many little seedlings, including some veggies.

So while hubby was busy finishing the back fence Natti and I (Angi was grumpy and needed to go to bed) got stuck into planting our little veggie seedlings. I STILL don't have a proper veggie patch down the back yet, but apparently it is rather low on the hubby's to do list at the moment (sad face here)...so instead, we found some rather large terracotta pots and made a little tabletop verandah veggie patch...

What do you think? It had to be table top so that Lula wouldn't come and rip them all out and spread the potting mix everywhere...but I think it is rather cute (just hope the table holds up LOL)...Here are some close ups of our Baby Carrots, Iceberg Lettuce, Honeypod peas, Green beans and scrummy cherry tomatoes (Natti is VERY fond of cherry toms!)

Note my little pots in the bottom right hand corner? These are just a few of the ones I had to salvage from Lula, and I think they may be bouncing back - think that might be a tomato and a pumpkin in the back pot and a chrysanthemum in the front pot.

Hopefully these will grow nicely and I will soon have a veggie patch to transplant some of them into. In the meantime, I am going to trot back out into the sunshine and plant the gerbera, seaside daisy and African Daisy seedlings I bought along with the veggies into the bare patches in my front garden bed (let's just hope I got the plant choice right this time LOL)

Do you like to get stuck into your garden? With Spring so close around the corner I would love to know what you are growing in your piece of paradise :)

Also, Take a little trip here to Jellywares...Jodie has also been doing some gardening. I love reading Jodie's blog. Her lifestyle is so inspirational to me.

Much Love

Suse

♥♥♥

Troubled sleep?

2011-08-12T16:59:00.000+10:00

I have been known to suffer from insomnia in the past...very bad insomnia...and, let me tell you, it was not fun.

It all started after I weaned my youngest Angi when she was 1 year old and I had the Implanon put it (the implant contraception). I had had the Implanon before and it didn't effect me too badly the first time, but this time it really messed me around. My hormones were just all over the place and I believe that that was one of the causes of my insomnia.

I didn't sleep for 4 months. Yup, you read right...4 MONTHS!!! 4 months without a wink of sleep, or half an hour at the most, only to be cruelly awoken by my hubby's alarm just as I had finally managed to doze off. NOT fun at all.

To explain how it feels to not have slept for so long, I would say, you try to get up in the morning and you want to be sick. You half expect your eyes to fall out of your head and roll along the floor, then your head to fall off your shoulders, and finally, it feels like if you get up, your arms are going to fall out of their sockets and you would be left an eyeless, headless, armless torso with legs. That pretty much sums it up...and when you still have to run a household with a 4 and a half year and a 1 year old, you can only imagine what that can do to your head!

I honestly believe, that if I did not have God in my life at that time, I would have lost my mind and ended up in a psych ward, or worse. Only God could have given me the strength I needed to carry on with life.

I am not an insomniac anymore (I am VERY glad to report)...but occassionally I will have a bad night with no sleep, and even one bad night is not good for the mind and body.

And then, last night I went to a girls homegroup from our church and I told them about some of that and one of the lovely girls there told me about a verse she has framed next to her bed and she reads it everynight before going to sleep...and she said she has not had a bad nights sleep because of it...so here it is...

(Free artwork can be found here on Shabby Blogs)

So I have printed this and I am going to frame it and hang it next to my side of the bed and I am going to read this promise EVERY night before I go to sleep...I believe that God wants me to have a good nights rest...we can't function properly if we don't. So I am taking hold of this verse with both hands and hanging on for dear life.

I hope you find some peace in this verse as well.

Much love

Suse

♥♥♥

Come on Spring!!

2011-08-10T11:56:00.000+10:00

yup, the countdown to spring is on...it is so close I can almost smell it in the air.

Spring has got to be my favourite season...how could it not be? My birthday falls in Spring and so does the birthday of my eldest daughter Natti.

Everything is fresh and new, and it starts to warm up!

In fact, I couldn't wait for Spring to pop her gorgeous head up any longer and decided to wear these new babies today (my mum would LOVE these sandals)...just to give Spring the hurry up...

and yes, my little pink tootsies do need some sunshine - they have been hiding in socks and boots all winter...and they were also very cold this morning on the school run until it warmed up a little bit LOL.

So...what is your favourite season? and what makes it your favourite? I would love to know :)

Well, my littlest chicken is now in bed (and hopefully going to go to sleep - a saga for another time), so I must get my houseclean on - wish me luck (haha)

Much Love
Suse
♥♥♥

Hi Waves madly

2011-08-09T13:58:00.000+10:00

I know...bad blogger right...well, I needed a break form the computer really. It was sucking the life out of me...no, it really was. I was depressed, a shocking housewife, a frustrated and impatient mum and I was just not able to keep up with it all...I just didn't have TIME! You know, all the time I spent sitting here in the study surfing the net, looking at blogs, pinning away madly, cruising through facebook...yup, I just didn't have TIME!

So you know what I did...I FORCED myself (and I tell ya, it was NOT an easy thing to do...it really wasn't), I FORCED myself to close the laptop lid and walk away...I FORCED myself to prioritise and not to procrastinate...I FORCED myself to see that my amount of computer time was becoming detrimental to my health, my marriage, my relationship with God, to the neglected housework, and of course, detrimental to my beautiful CHILDREN!

Yup, scary right...it sure was! I had withdrawals...for the first day all I could think about was what I was missing in the online world...but after that day, it became easier. Another day later and I was not even thinking about it...yes, my phone could still receive emails, but I was only responding to the VERY important ones (I promise you that is the truth). I basically took 2 and a half weeks off from my little lappy COMPLETELY...and you know what...it felt oh so good! I was not feeling stressed, my house was clean, my hubby and children were happier and my relationship with God has gone from strength to strength...it is AMAZING how much time you have when you prioritise :)

Yes, I am back now...but I am being super careful with how much time I give myself with my little laptop...I have allotted time for it, and when the time is up, the lid comes down...I HAVE to be strict with myself, I do not want to fall into that trap again...besides...everyone is happier and healthier for it...especially me :)

I do want to get this blog jumping again though, so keep an eye out :) I will be sharing photos and stories of our family life, hobbies and life in general. I hopefully will not be too boring for you (just give me a poke if I am and I will liven it up a bit).

Right now though, my computer time is drawing to a close for today, but I wanted to leave you with this picture of my youngest daughter, Angella, and myself this morning having "coffee" after the school run. I am LOVING the extra time with my beautiful family :)

Much Love
♥♥♥
Suse

PDF patterns

2011-07-13T15:22:00.004+10:00

I told you there were some exciting things happening behind the scenes here at By Suse Hocking...have you noticed anything in the right hand sidebar yet...anything to do with my patterns --------->

That's right! You can now buy the PDF versions directly from me! You can either find me on etsy or on Craftumi or Oz Handmade

Or simply click on the picture of the pattern you would like to purchase and it will take you directly to the listing :)

Now, not all my patterns have been transferred yet. I am still workng on that, scanning imgaes and turning them all into PDF's, so please be patient with me.

I also promised a pic of my 2 monkeys with their "custom" mermaids yesterday...so here it is:

Aren't they just the cutest (the girls and the mermaids LOL).

Much love

Suse

♥♥♥

Exciting times...

2011-07-12T10:58:00.004+10:00

New things are cropping up here at By Suse Hocking...even as I type, fun new things are in progress behind the scenes.

I won't give it all away just yet, but I can tell you that I am now adding softies to my range. And not just any softies...the cutest little (or not so little in some cases) softies you ever did see. I have used patterns lovingly and beautifully designed by Sarah of Dolls and Daydreams. Here is an example of what is to come:

This Gorgeous Mermaid Softie is just the beginning of the new range. Isn't she just so cute? she sold pretty quickly, which meant my 2 girls were devastated...they really wanted to keep her. So do you know what they did? They asked me for a custom order...LOL...yes, Natti, my eldest asked me in those words! She knows the lingo already...priceless. So I am in the middle of makig them each a "custom" Mermaid with their names embroidered on them...with the fabrics and colours of their choice...and I must say, the didn't choose too badly :) I will show you a pic of them with their new toys once they are finished.

I am not going to share the other exciting thing just yet...it is still a fair way off and I don't want to spoil the surprise.

So until next time..

Much Love

Suse

♥♥♥

and the winner is......

2011-06-26T10:12:00.002+10:00

picked using the random number generator from random.org is...

<br>The numbers generated by this widget come from RANDOM.ORG's true random number generator.<br>

Marcelle Searles!!!!

Well done Marcelle! To order your custom iPad or basic purse please email me at susan_hocking@hotmail.com with which one you want and your fabric choices (you can choose from this range here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150210048003867.324617.343047343866

Thankyou to everyone who entered my competition..it was fun :)

Cheers

Suse

♥♥♥

{iPad sleeve giveaway}

2011-06-20T12:22:00.005+10:00

I have slowly been getting back to my sewing as my fractured knee allows. I have been playing around with a few ideas I have been mulling over...some things that are just small and fun...some things that are going to be great for this techy world we are living in and some things that are good for our environment too :)

I try to make my two daughters lunches for school and daycare as rubbish free as possible. This means I use a few little lunchboxes and a drink bottle for each child, and try not to use plastic bags, or have any throw away containers. Now, I know that there are a lot of schools out there that have gone rubbish free in there lunch box policies, and really, how are you meant to carry around so many little containers? (or not lose them!)...so I have started making these little beauties...

...these are insulated with insulated wadding, so keep cool things cool and warm things warm. They have a divider and a pocket with a fork/spoon compartment inside, and they close with a velcro strip to make it easy for little hands to open and close. I have only pictured 2 sizes here, but I am adding an even larger one to the range as well for picnics and such :)

My girls both love to play with purses, and I think I would have spent so much money buying them little purses over the years, so I started making these cute little purses using a Keyka Lou pattern. they are the perfect size for little hands, and the velcro strip makes it easy to open and close. The other great thing about these are they are the perfect size to hold your iPhone or iPod in the back pouch, with either some cards and notes or your earphones in the front pouch...like I said, some things are to help us out in this techy world ;)

This morning I had a play with some gorgeous Riley Blake fabric "Sugar and Spice" and made up a simple iPad sleeve, fully padded and lined, and again, closes with velcro (where would we be without wonderful velcro!)...sooo cute.

Now, I wish I had an iPad to pop into this little beauty, but alas, my hubby is allergic to apple products...so, to celebrate new creativeness at By Suse Hocking HQ (don't worry, I have even more fun little things I am working on to add to this new branch of By Suse Hocking) I am going to hold a GIVEAWAY right here on my blog!

The prize: Your very own iPad Sleeve, custom made for you, or, if you don't have an iPad, you can win a custom little purse!

Here is how you can enter...it truly is very simple...all you have to do is comment on this post before Friday the 24th of June (that is THIS Friday), 8pm AEST and you could be in the running to win! How easy and exciting is that?!?

Well, I have some more things on my "to make" list today, so I will leave you with that!

Much Love

Suse

♥♥♥

♥ Proud Mummy Moment ♥

2011-06-14T19:09:00.004+10:00

I am so proud of my Natti. We have been trying to teach her to try her best at everything she does, especially now that she is in prep. And it has obviously sunk in.

We got to school this morning and I was about to leave when her teacher came running after me with a piece of paper. To my surprise, it was a letter to tell me that Natti was being awarded a Just Like Jesus award in chapel today (and these awards are a BIG deal at her school).....and guess what Trait of Jesus was being awarded this time...

PURPOSEFULNESS!!

So so so proud of my big girl right now.

So I tootled along with Angi to the Lower Primary Chapel service this afternoon and watched as my Natti got called up on stage and awarded her certificate and a little book...and yes...I had a tear or 2.

So here she is receiving her award from the deputy head of primary...

and here she is with her certificate and her book.

Well...that is all for now...this proud mumma has to sign off and go and tuck 2 little girls into bed.

Til next time

Much love

Suse

♥♥♥

stitching sneak peak

2011-06-11T15:53:00.002+10:00

I've been busy...

...hand quilting!

It has been taking me forever...let's put it this way...I started this quilt in March last year! Yes, that is correct...I have been working on it for over a year now. I think it is the hand quilting...I get bored easily, but I have decided this one REALLY needs to get finished, so I can write the pattern for it ♥

At least hand quilting in winter keeps me warm :)

much love

Suse

♥♥♥

BRRRR!!!

2011-06-10T08:58:00.002+10:00

My goodness it is unseasonally cold here this morning. Normally winter doesn't really hit the Gold Coast til mid to late July, but this year, just 10 days in we are hitting the 1 and 2 degree mark here in our little valley. This morning hubby rang to tell me just how cold it was...he had to scrape ice off the windscreen of his work car this morning! Now that is cold. Yesterday, it was reported, that Brisbane's max temp. was COLDER than Melbournes!!! So that is saying something.

I don't really enjoy the cold too much, I suppose if there was some snow to go with the cold, then I could bear it...that might make the cold a bit more fun...but alas, I think it will only snow here once hell has frozen over! Oh I would so love to play in the snow. I have only seen snow falling twice in my whole life, and it was not even for long enough to leave anything on the ground. That was down in Tasmania in December, at Dove Lake and at Mount Wellington...wait, I lie, I have played in snow once before, when I was a teenager, somewhere near my gran's farm in South Africa...but it was old snow...very hard. You couldn't make snowballs out of it....I long to see and play in fresh falling snow...oh that would be just the most delightful fun...especially, if afterwards, I get to go into a lovely warm cabin, and sit next to a log fire, with hot chocolate and marshmallows in hand with my handsome hubby and my girls...I can dream can't I?

And amongst all this cold, my knee injury is till in limbo. I can bend it now, but it is still swollen and it hurts, and the cold is messing with all my joints...not fun...and this is why I love my NEW electric blanket so very much...it helps take away the joint pains and keeps me snuggly and warm all night long. VERY hard to get out of bed after sleeping in that kind of warmth all night long!

Now, I did want to show you a pic of something that I think is remarkable...even though it is so very cold right now...these gorgeous blooms are still blooming just outside the big sliding door...aren't they just sublime???

Well, right now, I am going to go and laze on the couch, with a cup of tea, my snuggy, and my hook and yarn...going to crochet up a stoem...nothing like freezing weather for making crochet squares for blankets...come to think of it...I need to finish off all the ones I started last winter too LOL...so much yarn, so little time.

Much love

Suse

♥♥♥♥♥

I did something really dumb...

2011-05-18T14:28:00.002+10:00

Yup, I did, and I am regretting it now big time...here is what happened (warning, could be a long post)...

On Monday I had planned to do a bit of gardening and a lot of housework. Angi and I dropped Natti off at school and then went to Big W and Bunnings to purchase some flowers to plant. We bought some gorgeous gerbera's, a chrysanthemum and a lovely little Azalea called Red Ruffles...BEAUTIFUL! I would show you a pic, but because of the dumb thing I did since buying them, I cannot take a pic right now.

Anyway, we got home and the sun was shining gloriously down on our little patch of the Gold Coast, so I took Angi and my new flowers outside to get ready for a good, healthy planting session. Lula, our "little" puppy got moved down to her zipline (we don't have a fence, so while we wait for the fence to be completed she has to be chained to her zipline, which is not too bad for her as she can still run and play, but just can't run away or bowl the kids over). The ceramic pots I wanted were next to her pen at the top of her zipline so I dashed across the yard and just out of her reach to grab one for my new gerberas.

She is a fiesty little thing and I knew she would end up tangling my legs in her chain, so I threw a ball down to the other end of the line so I could get a clear path back to the verandah. Unfortunately she saw my movement and bolted for me. I was carrying a ceramic pot planter, half filled with soil, and didn't feel like having my legs chopped off by her chain, so decided to run the short distance in the hope of beating her back...she was faster...

As I lifted my right foot to jump out of the way and up the low rock wall, she took it out from under me, which threw off my whole projection, and I smashed into the rock wall! My elbow came down on the top edge and grazed badly...blood almost everywhere, but that was not even the half of it, my knee smashed straight into the rock face...not much of a graze, but my goodness, the world started spinning...I have not felt pain like that in a VERY long time!

Angi came running over to see if I was okay and tried to kiss me better, bless her little heart, but it did not help. Thankfully the pot landed on the grass and didn't smash (it lies there still at this very moment). I managed to get up and hobble into the house, where I sat down and rang hubby, we both thought it was nothing, just a bit sore, but after 10 minutes or so I could not move it, or put any weight on it, and when I put a bag of frozen peas on it the pain just got much, much worse. I rang dad and he took me to the ED, where the triage nurse looked at me disdainfully while I sat in the wheelchair, almost in tears, and obviously thought I was the biggest drama queen on the planet, because, to look at it, my knee didn't look too bad. They finally took me in for x-rays, which was pure agony...and you know what, I had the last laugh on that rude triage nurse...I had fractured my kneecap!

Yup, you read correctly, I have fractured my kneecap and now I have to where a full-leg, straight splint...at least I didn't have to have a cast, however, I still cannot walk, or drive or bend the leg...I also cannot use my beloved sewing machines at the moment either...devastated by that fact alone I am!

I am on crutches and am spending an awful lot of time sitting in my recliner, surfing the net and thinking up lots of new designs for patterns I would like to make while I am an invalid. Hopefully it also means I will now have a bit more time to blog, and hopefully I will be able to show you a few pics every now and again of new ideas I have in my head. It has been so long since I did any pattern designing...the whole idea of having time to do it is exciting in itself.

So for now, keep safe...try not to do something as dumb as what I did...and happy stitching.

Love

Suse xx

I have a new obsession...

2011-04-21T19:26:00.008+10:00

BRODERIE ANGLAISE!

Yes, that is correct, I said Broderie Anglaise...love it...

Love how it makes me reminisce about my childhood...

Love how it looks sewn up as childrens clothing...

Love how it looks on my girls...

Love how it feels...

Love how it sews up...

Just simply love it!

So I have decided to take a new angle with my little sewing hobby/business. I have started the

"Broderie Bliss" By Suse Hocking Collection.

and you can purchase it here.

What makes you reminisce about your childhood?

Doggy days...or should that be daze?

2011-02-27T12:34:00.005+10:00

It is hot again today on the lovely Gold Coast...the sun is shining...or should I say blazing down on us on our little patch of earth we call home. Hubby is outside in all this milling up our felled trees for our patio and fence posts...honestly, I do not know how he does it...especially when he knows the girls and I are sitting inside in the air conditioning! Gotta love a man who likes to get things done!

Our little puppy girl, Lula, is growing up so fast...I look back at the pictures in my last post of the first day we had her...and I look at her now and it blows my mind...the girl is twice the size she was when we got her on new years eve! She is roughly 15 weeks old now...and bigger than any small dog will ever get. And she is still as psycho as ever...full of beans I like to call it. So I thought I would share some pics of our little pup...

I decided to take her to puppy school yesterday, instead of hubby...as I was finding she was not responding to me at all...she kept nicking off next door last week to play in the dam...and I had to physically retrieve each time...which makes for one unhappy, cross and soggy mumma...and then a sad little puppy dog because the cranky mumma locked her up in her pen so she wouldn't go down again! So, I went to puppy school to earn some R-E-S-P-E-C-T! and I finally got it.

Now, after some puppy (and mumma) training together, she listens to me. She is walking on the leash nicely, instead of ripping my arms out of their sockets while she takes me for a walk. She is sitting on command and staying so much better now...and she is coming more when I call her too...which is a big plus!

Now, I am able to get the girls outside to play while I have Lula on the leash and controlled...they are not freaking out with her as much as they were...still a very long way to go with them...she is still a puppt and they are still children...both totally irrational beings...a lot of work is still gong to be needed. But we are getting there :)

Speaking of the girls...Natti is LOVING prep...and Angi adores her new daycare teachers...and loves being there...which makes me feel alot better about leaving them at school and daycare while I work on my little business (and practice training with Lula).

By Suse Hocking has a new webstore as well! I have now got an online store with Oz Handmade and there are currently heaps of little outfits for the boys and the girls there ready for purchase...I am still taking custom orders as well, and I am about to star working on my new "cooler months" line of clothing to be released probably in mid march :) Also, once I reach 1200 likers over at my FB page I will be holding a "Lovely liker discount sale" over at my oz handmade store...so come on by and join the fun.

Until next time, have a great one!

Cheers

Suse ♥

oops

2011-01-19T10:46:00.003+10:00

it's been a while hasn't it LOL...oh well...I cannot even remember where I left off last.

We did our big Tassie Trip...it was so much fun...but also very cold...we even got snowed on a couple of times (and it was mid summer!)...and when we got home again it just rained and rained...

Christmas was so lovely...we had all the family over to our house for Christmas lunch...lots of celebrations everywhere...

Angi turned 2!!! Can you believe it! She turned 2 two days after Christmas...it makes me cry, she is growing up so fast...here is a little convo we share almost every ten minutes at the moment:

Angi: "Mummy!!!"

Me: "Yes baby?"

Angi: "Mummy, I uv you!"

She melts my heart!

We bought a new puppy...Lula is a funny little thing (or not so little really LOL). She is 3/4 labrador and 1/4 border collie...beautiful temperament...both the girls are absolutely terrified of her still.

Natti starts prep on Monday...I have dried about it heaps already! And Angi starts daycare next Thursday...I will miss them both but I am ready for a break and a bit of "me" time...which involves lots of sewing for By Suse Hocking. Natti also had her first swimming lesson yesterday...she was very nervous, and so was I...but she did so well...the teacher wanted her to jump off the edge into her arms (she had them wearing floaties)...and Natti was to scared to...but she slowly got the courage up...she started with sitting on the edge and jumping in, then squatting and then full jumping without the teacher having to catch her...I was so glad she was taking to it.

On the sewing front, I have a big market coming up on the 6th of February called The Butterfly Tree Markets. I will have all the usual By Suse Hocking Clothes for sale, as well as something very special...something new I will be launching in February...I so can't wait to reveal the secret!

In the mean time....it is hot here...so I might take my girls for a swim at the IL's place :)

Happy sewing

Suse xx

A new Design...

2010-11-17T13:46:00.004+10:00

By Suse Hocking is now offering a new dress design!!! The pattern used is from Wink Designs and I think this is my favourite dress to make yet! It is super cute...really it is....just have a look...

Here is Natti modelling a size 6 version in Amy Butler Lotus print :)

I have called it the "Angella May" Dress, after my gorgeous youngest baby :) who models the size 2 version in cute as little owls and flowers.

This dress can be made in sizes 1 - 6.

It has a fully lined bodice and cute tie up spaghetti straps. The skirt is gathered just under the bodice, and the back can be opened fully, and closes with snap closures for ease of dressing run away toddlers (like mine LOL).

Custom orders are most welcome. They cost $35 plus $6 post (in Australia...international orders need to have postage confirmed).

You can also peruse a few fabrics you might like to choose from here...

I hope you like the new dress in the range...I know it is my new favourite!

Love Suse ♥

WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-11-17T10:36:00.007+10:00

I am so sorry this is late...my bad...I forgot...LOL...anyway...my little number generator has picked a winner!!!

So...here are all the names that went into the draw (just so you know you were all there)...

and here they are in the jar...

...cutest number generator ever ♥

Ready to pick the winner...

and reach in...

and the winner is...

Well done Ang!!!! Please email me you address so I can post off your prize to you ASAP!!!

Back again soon to show off some of the new dresses I have been sewing :)

Love Suse ♥

Giveaway time again :)

2010-11-12T14:09:00.008+10:00

Right...I thought it was about time to do another "By suse Hocking" Giveaway...what do you think?

I was thinking maybe a childrens outfit, or some cute Christmas decorations...but then I thought, no...most of you love fabric (am I right or am I right??? LOL)...and I mean REALLY love fabric...so a fabric giveaway it is...

3 Fat quarters

1 of each of my latest shipment of Michael Miller's Brady Bunch...

This is "Cindy" in multi...

This is "Jan" in aqua...

and finally this is "Alice"

So...leave a comment on this post...tell me how your days going, or how your dog's feeling today, or which way the wind is blowing...or just say "Pick me!" I don't mind...but please just one comment each to be fair on everyone...and I will randomly pick a winner, with my littlest random number generator...

here she is...

ain't she a cutie???

Make sure you get all your entries in by 9:30am Brisbane time on Tuesday morning the 16th of November to be in the running to win this gorgeous fat quarter pack...

if you miss out, don't worry, you can still purchase this fabric from my craftumi store: http://craftumi.com.au/2cheekymonkeys

(Please note: This giveaway has absolutely nothing to do with facebook. Thanks)(the fb rules say I have to put that up here because I am telling you about this giveaway on my pages)

Terms:

1 entry per person only

To enter, comment on this post before the said time and date

The winner will be picked randomly by my youngest daughter with a draw from a hat (photos will come - too cute)

No negotiation will be entered into, the decision on the winner is final

The winner will be announced here no later than 12 noon Brisbane time on Tuesday the 16th of November.

So get commenting...and tell everyone you know :)

Love

Suse xx

It's my first time...

2010-10-22T13:57:00.003+10:00

...my first time ever going to a quilt and craft fair!!!

So the lovely Leanne and I are driving up to BrisVegas tomorrow morning and I will be initiated into the world of craft fairs (FINALLY)...I have been dying to go to one for years, but no one ever wants to go with me...even the Gold Coast ones...maybe I just need to suck it up and go to them on my own...but it is always much more fun with friends.

So, tomorrow I will be dropping the girls off with my mum and dad (thank you thankyou thank you so much for letting me leave them with you so I can actually enjoy myself without worrying about losing one or both of them in the crowd)...and then it is off to the fair...*squeal* cannot wait!!! Then next week I will show you what I bought (if anything...oh who am I kidding...I will def. have something to show you LOL).

My design groove is back, so I am excited to see what is in store in my head pattern wise over the next few weeks...I have finished another block for my latest design...I will have to give you another sneak peek I guess...but not right now...right now I need to go and make paper people chains with my Natti...my little crafty girl...I think I have been blessed with two of them :)

So for now...

Cheers,

Suse xx

Where the Wind Blows

2010-10-19T20:20:00.006+10:00

Yes, I know...a miracle...two new posts in one day...hope blogger can cope LOL

Anyway, the reason for another post is I have decided to let you all have a sneak peek of the new pattern design I am working on at the moment.

I am using the GORGEOUS new fabric range designed by the VERY talented Melanie Hurlston of Melly & Me fame, called "Where the wind blows"...the debut fabric collection from Creative Abundance (which many of you know distributes patterns for many wonderful Aussie designers).

You can buy the full range of this gorgeous fabric here at Quilt Fabric Delights (Sarah is so lovely).

So here you go...one...teeny...tiny...sneak peek...

Hmmmmm...that's a bit annoying...blogger keeps rotating it the wrong way around...oh well...it is just a little sneak peek...

So...what do you think?

Suse xx

Welcome to Hocking's Farm!!!!

2010-10-19T13:15:00.006+10:00

What's that? I hear you say...Hocking's farm? I hear you asking...

YUP...that is correct...Hocking's Farm!

Why? I hear you asking....

Well, here are 4 little, oh so cute, reasons why...

That's right...DUCKLINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our very own ducklings!

Well, we have to give two back when they are old enough too have their sex determined...but we get to keep two of these little sweeties for ourselves, right here on "Hocking's Farm"!!!!!

Our neighbours bought 10 of these babies on Friday afternoon, and on saturday they had us over for a BBQ...we didn't know they had bought them, so when we stepped onto the deck and I saw a cardboard box and heard little cheeps and chirps coming from it I got soooo excited...I love ducklings and chickens...my gran had them on her farm all the time when we were kids, we used to swim with them and cuddle them all day long...I loved them...and now my neighbour had them!!! YAY...I could come over and play with her ducks. But when she said we could HAVE two of them...my heart skipped a beat and I have been dreaming about my ducklings ever since. And today, Angi and I walked around to next door and chose our new babies.

Angi and Natti are besotted with them, as am I (me probably even more so). Our very own fine, feathered babies to love and hand raise...so here begins our journey, out on our acreage, on Hocking's farm, with the very beginnings of ducky love growing in our hearts.

So I hope you all don't mind me sharing copious numbers of pictures of our new lovelies, and spouting forth ducky love and facts all over my blog pages. I promise that I will write about other things (occasionally LOL) and show pics of other things (occasionally LOL).

So for now, I am off to watch my new ducky bubs have an afternoon snooze...all cute and cuddled up to their new teddy bear, in their new cardboard home, with their new mumma.

With lots of ducky love,

Suse xx

SALE ON NOW!!!!!

2010-10-05T15:20:00.006+10:00

Yup, you heard me correctly, I am having a big sale on EVERYTHING in the for sale album on my By Suse Hocking facebook page. EVERYTHING is reduced, some by a heap, some by a little, but everything is reduced...so why not pop on over and grab yourself a handmade bargain while you are there :)

Here are some random pics of what is available for purchase...

I do have more to say, but I need to go and pick Natti up from kindy, and that means waking Angi up...she will be grumpy. I must steel myself for the grumpiness!

I will have more to share next time

Cheers, Suse xx

Do not worry!

2010-09-02T16:28:00.004+10:00

This is a command given by the Lord. Everytime you worry you are sinning...ever thought of that? Have a read of this...

Therefore I say to you, "do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Matthew 6:25 - 34

Jesus is telling us not to worry! I don't know about you, but I am the worlds worst worrier...I alwasy have been...I worry about EVERYTHING...and I have to keep reminding myself that it is a sin to worry. Jesus also tells us that we need to seek Him and His kingdom first and He will give us all we need.

An example of this is when Daniel and I first got married. We were poor uni students with barely any income at all for a whole year! Scary...yet, we layed our burden before the Lord and you know what...everything that needed to be payed for was...every bill was covered, we had food and we still got to do fun things...and the only way we could have done that was through the Lord. We knew we needed to rely on Him to survive financially.

Now, Daniel is working full time, we have kids, our own home and we are financially stable...but what do you think we worry about the most? That's right...money! Because we have some now we seem to have forgotten how to rely on God for our needs. We need to step back and stop worrying and hand it all over to the Lord to take care of it for us!

So I am proposing a diet...not the kind of diet where you force yourself to not eat chocolate and ice cream, or make you stop eating anything with wheat in it. No...I propose a worry diet! We need to force ourselves to stop worrying and hand everything over to the Lord. He made us, He knows us, He knows what we need...so why not let Him take care of us.

It will be hard, especially for us hard core worriers...but I just know life will be so much better for it. But we can be accountable to each other...we can do this together...Let's quit worrying in a BIG way! I know that I am sure ready to start...I am getting too many gray hairs for my age due to the worrying I do.

So make a stand today...say NO to worry...and YES to the help of the Lord!

Website

2010-08-17T11:26:00.004+10:00

Just thought I would let you all know that I now have a website where you can purchase my goodies easily. It is a Big Cartel website, but I just love how easy and cheap it is to run!

So here it is...

http://www.bysusehocking.bigcartel.com/

However, there is not much there at the moment as I am still terribly sick with a nasty chest infection...but I am slowly building up my product base.

So I thought I might also show you my newest product which is website...I am hoping to make a few of these today :)

A very cheeky sock monkey fabric covered journal.

Cheers

Suse xx

Sorry...

2010-08-14T11:47:00.005+10:00

I have been a bit AWOL with the blog this week, sorry...I have been sick and getting worse...I now have a horrible chesty bark and my chest really hurts when I cough...thinking I have got a chest infection again...so I am also thinking I need to go and see the doc again.

I have also been SUPER busy sewing a up a storm for my new spring collection launch for "By Suse Hocking"...and it is not nearly ready to go yet, so I will be working my butt off this week trying to get it ready, along with finishing up some custom orders I have.

So, I probably won't be back to this poor neglected blog again til next week (hoping so anyway). But I thought I can't leave you without any photos of glorious colour...so here is a little sneak peek of what is coming in my new spring collection...enjoy :)

Cheers

Suse xx

More yarn...

2010-08-09T14:01:00.005+10:00

yup...I have been naughty and gone and bought more yarn!!!

But doesn't this make you happy...just to look at it even??? Although I must just point out that this pic does not do the colours justice...there are two balls there next to the pink ones that are NOT red, just a darker pink...hmmm, I am thinking I need to get more of the mid pink.

Now, I am thinking these need to be made into something very "Lucy" of Attic24...I don't know, but I am leaning towards the Summer Garden Granny Squares...any other ideas?

Now this tub that the yarn is in is amazing...not only does it hold yarn ever so nicely...it also doubles as a very fun little car!!!

Angi found the empty tub, with the lid still on, in the lounge. Upon inspection she discovered it had wheels, she tested them out, gave the tub a little push. She investigated the lid and, to her delight, discovered that it could be removed. She looked at me and Grandma and Natti...looked back at the tub and back at us...pointed her little finger at it and exclaimed "CAR-CAR" with an enormous grin on her face...and with a sparkle in her eye she promptly hopped in and ordered Natti to push her around the lounge with gusto (although not too much gusto)...and as she 'drove' along she picked up her teddy friends along the way for a little Saturday arvo drive :)

Now I don't know about you, but I am very pleased that my daughter doesn't *need* one of those actual toy cars that take up a ridiculous amount of space and cost a ridiculous amount of money...when all you need is a storage tub on wheels, a big sister to push you around and some of your favourite teddy friends to enjoy the ride with...which reminds me...I need to get some pics of Natti in her "car"...maybe next post hey.

Cheers

Suse xx

A little colour therapy

2010-08-05T12:44:00.006+10:00

Who loves colour???

I know I do...especially when I am feeling a little blue, a touch of colour can really brighten up the day and put a smile on my face.

Now, my oldest daughter Natti LOVES to play with beads and sort the colours (well, sometimes she likes to sort colours LOL)...and this is what she has been up to today...

Isn't this tub of beads just a gorgeous eyeful of coloury goodness???? It always makes me happy to watch my girl enjoying colour!

Now if only I could get my hands on heaps more of these (any suggestions as to whereI can find these would be GREAT as I am doing a beading party for her birthday in 5 weeks time and I want to use these)...

and also, would it not be amazing if I could find some gorgeously soft yarn in these very colours here in Australia, without having to cut my arms off to pay for the postage from overseas LOL

I just wanted to alaso show off some of my fave colour combos...Natti kindly sorted these for me...don't you just LOVE pink and yellow together...I know I do...makes me think of sunny days and pretty flowers...picked by the bunch to make pretty posies or daisy chains..ahhhh, I could do that right now...wish I could LOL

I think this is my fave colour combo at the moment...Aqua and red. A touch unusual I know, but gorgeous nonetheless...Natti was making me a necklace with these, but she has decided to add dark green as well....hmmm...don't know about that. We will see how it turns out :)

In the meantime, I hope this little splash of colour has brightened up your day, it certainly has brightened up mine :) What is your fave colour combo...please, I would love to know :)

Lve Suse xx

A bit of hooky...

2010-08-02T11:45:00.006+10:00

Well, once again, I have been slack with this blog...terrible really...but I am going to make more of an effort to keep up the blogging and I promise to try and make it a little more interesting for the few of you who do actually read it (YAY!)...starting now (Well, it is interesting to me so I just hope you may find it interesting too LOL).

Lucy of Attic 24 fame is amazing! No, really, she is...she inspires me in so many ways...her crocheting is incredible and she has motivated me to pull out my hooks and yarn more often than I had been...for ME! Not for "By Suse Hocking"...no, no, no...I reserve the right to enjoy a bit of hooky just for me (well, and my family LOL). She has taught me that I don't have to finish things as fast as I can, but to enjoy the experience along the way...enjoy the creating, not just the finishing...she has inspired me to SLOW DOWN.

So, because I admire Lucy, I decided to try and follow along with her in her Granny stripe quest...now, I am the type of person who can look at a craft project, and, if I already know the basics of that particular craft, I can see how it is done and not follow the pattern...you know, do it my way and hope it turns out the same...well, I did that...and I didn't look closely enough at how Lucy had done her blanket...I just went ahead...I didn't count how many chain stitches I had...I just stopped making chains when I thought it was long enough...I got about 15 rows in and thought to myself..."this just does not look like Lucy's granny stripe...but why???" So I jumped online and headed straight for her blog to find out why mine looked different...Lucy had done 2 rows of each colour to get the stripe, while I had rushed ahead without checking and I had only done 1 row for each colour...hmmm...too hasty, like I said, this blanket and Lucy have taught me to SLOW DOWN lol...anyway, would you like to see how I am progressing??? Okay, you twisted my arm, I will show you :)

This is as far as I have gotten so far, I plan for it to be a single bed size for Angella as it matches the colour theme I am going for in her room (although, I do love the way it looks over my chair in the adults retreat...makes it look more country style than the uber modern look Daniel was going for...more about country v modern in another post LOL).

and here is a lovely close up shot...see what I mean about the mistake I made with the number of rows for each colour? I have decided that I do LOVE it though...I can make a proper Granny stripe again another time...just need to think of what to call it now...Granny............??? Any suggestions?

Oh I sooo love this photo...colour overdose, just LOVE it...these are all the yarn colours I am using for the blanket...aren't they scrummy...makes me think of spring and summer...which is good, because when we pull it out in winter even just looking at the colours will warm me up :) (also note my crochet mag in there...I wish we had a mag dedicated to crocheters in Australia...I think this one is a US one). Oh yes, and these yarns are called "Little Grins" and you can get them at spotlight and Big W...100%acrylic, but OMW softer than soft and luxuriously thick when hookied up (my hook of choice is a 4mm one).

I have been creating this blanky at night, after the girls have gone to bed and we are watching a bit of telly or a movie...I don't really like to just sit and veg, my hands have to be busy with something all the time or I cannot sit still, so this has been the perfect distraction...slow and steady a few rows a night and before you know it it will be finished...the perfect winter project as it keeps you warm as you go :)

Well, that's it for today, but I promise to be back soon...I have lots I want to show you and ask advice on and such...loving being back on the blog train again...hopefully I can keep it up better than I keep up the exercise LOL...more on that another day.

Cheers for now,

Suse xx

Movie world and a strawberry picnic :)

2010-07-12T14:31:00.011+10:00

Today I took the girls down to our local park for a play and a picnic, seeing as it has been such a beautiful day today. I took these pics of Angi as she ate ALL the strawberries and I had to share as they made me laugh so much...These are pics of Angi saying "Please"...she does these faces everytime she says it LOL...

So we have bought our VIP fun passes for the year to seaworld, movie world and wet n wild. So we went to Seaworld yesterday...and look who was there...

that's right...Grant Hackett! We also saw Gianne Rooney (sp?)...and PLUCKA DUCK! HAHAHA! That poor plucka duck costume is a little worse for wear...come on Hey Hey it's Saturday, time to refurbish the duck LOL

Hope you all had a great weekend :)

Cheers

Suse xx

AAAHHHHH!!! Sneak peek!

2010-07-10T14:59:00.004+10:00

I am soooo loving with the French Hatbox fabric Collection by Tanya Whelan of Grand Revival Design! I am loving the different colour ways she has put in this particular collection, and, although I love the pinks and blues, I also love love love the greens and pale browns...they are PERFECT for this new design I am working...well, this half of it anyway :)

So, now for a sneak peek...

I don't want to give too much away right now, but already here you can see the 1800's style influence on thisparticular project...I LOVE historical romance novels, especially the ones set in the 1800's (my fave authors are Lori Wick and Tracey Peterson, who write Christian romance novels...my fave titles being set in the 1800's)...so a lot of my design inspiration comes from these books...as you will soon find out when I do the big reveal!

Happy guessing!

Suse xx

Lookie what I got today!!!

2010-07-09T19:09:00.004+10:00

YUM!!!!!!!

Beautiful French Hatbox by Tanya Whelan...

isn't it sublime...I know it has been out for a while, but I think these are going to be PERFECT for my new pattern design I have been brainstorming!

Come back later for some more sneaky peeks :)

Cheers, Suse xx

It's been a while...

2010-07-08T15:08:00.009+10:00

since I blogged last...Life has just taken over yet again...I really wish it would all just slow down a bit.

Well, Daniel has been working very long hours at work the last couple of weeks as he is project managing a huge road redevelopment project...it is crazy hectic for him and he is exhausted...I can't wait til this particular project is over...it won't be until the end of October though. Oh well.

The girls are just blossoming in front of my very eyes...they are both changing so much and getting bigger and taller and cleverer (and sometimes even naughtier) but I love them and love being able to stay home with them and watch them grow and have the chance to really input into their lives. Natti si off on holidays at the moment, although kindy starts again next week...we are very blessed that her kindy breaks for the school holidays and we don't have to pay for it during those weeks. We have really been enjoying sleeping in and not having to battle traffic to get to kindy 3 days a week.

My little hobby/business has taken off nicely as well...I now have some of my goodies in a little shop in Canberra called Little Monstas Clothing. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have my handmade goodies in a real store! I have also been contacted to put my things in a new store opening up here on the Gold Coast in August, which is super exciting as well!!!

Oh yes, and my OVERLOCKER finally arrived...yes, a brand new Janome 204D (thanks to my gorgeous hubby!)

I thought, seeing as I have not been here for a while that I might put up some pics of the things that have been happening around here, including the kids and the "By Suse Hocking" world...so here goes...

Cool dude Angi...hehe, so cute!

My two gorgeous princesses having a bedtime snuggle...

Oh my word, she is growing up WAY TOO FAST!!!!! Make her stop please...

Couldn't resist showing you all this one of Angi "modelling" one of my reversible pinny's...she was not impressed LOL

"Tutu Bums" is my latest invention...soooooo cute!

and lastly, my cute little wrist purses ready for shipping down to Little Monstas Clothing in Canberra. The yoyo's are actually brooches which can be removed and worn on a cardy or shirt :)

Well, that's it for now...I want to get back into designing some new patterns soon too, so keep an eye out...anything in particular you want to see? Let me know.

Cheers,

Suse

And the winner is.....

2010-05-25T15:57:00.003+10:00

drum roll please...........................................................................thanks to the trusty online number generator.......................................................

No. 15 - Gail Comber (Miss_Nance)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well done hun!!!!! Please email me your addy so I can post that off to you ASAP :)

It is GIVEAWAY time again!!!

2010-05-14T08:33:00.003+10:00

Yep, that's right...to celebrate 200 fans on my facebook page "By Suse Hocking" I am having a giveaway! ( please note, Facebook is NOT a sponsor of this giveaway, nor does it really have anything to do with it)...

So here is the deal...do you want this???

Well then, leave a comment on THIS post and you will go into the draw for this cute as a button babushka wrist purse!

Cheers, suse xx

Oh yes, and don't forget...if you are on the Gold Coast this Sunday the 16th of May we are having out first ever Bonogin Valley Community Fun Day. From 8 - 11am...there will be stalls, pony rides, face painting, great food and loads of family fun...be there or be square! (I have a stall, so come and visit me :) )

Ruffle Skirt Mania!!!

2010-05-05T13:29:00.006+10:00

Okay...so I have been making these gorgeous Ruffle skirts for our local market in a week and a half...and I decided that I might do custom orders of these babies...so here are some pics and some info if you would like one.

One of a kind ruffle skirts...I will never make one the same as another! So take your pick and dress your little princess in a unique as can be little skirt!

Custom orders are welcome just email me at susan_hocking@hotmail.com

Size 3 - 6 years (the top two pictured above) - $23 each (if you want trim on the bottom of one layer add $2. If you want it added to both layers add $4)

Size 6 months to 2 years (bottom two pictured above) - $20 each (if you want trim added to one layer add $2. If you want it added to both layers add $4)

(Please note...price does not include shipping)

So...what do you reckon???

New cards...

2010-04-28T11:40:00.008+10:00

I made some new cards for my etsy shop last night using my SIL's stampin' up Owl stamps (and some others I had)...aren't they cute? I am so getting some stampin' up stamp sets now!

the sad news is...I needed to pull all my bulky items from my etsy store, as the postage here in Australia to post overseas is never the same twice and it cost $9.50 to post one cupcake to the US...and seeing as I have had no Australian interest through Etsy I have had to pull them...so frustrating. Aus post just can't get it right...When I get packages froom the US it cost less than a third what I pay for postage out of Australia...very sad :(

However, in saying that...I did get an order for 12 of my cupcakes from a local friend of mine...so if you are Australian...and would lilke some cupcakes...I can do a custom order for you...they are $4 each or 3 for $10...just email me at susan_hocking@hotmail.com and let me know how many you want and what colour selection you were after :)

If you would like any of my papergoods, hairclips or sewing patterns though...you can find them here...

http://www.susehocking.etsy.com/

Also, I will be selling them at my local markets in Bonogin on the 16th of May (Sunday morning)...so if you are local and looking for a fun morning out...come and visit my stall there on bonogin road, next to the general store...should be fun :)

Cheers, Suse xx

cupcake ♥♥♥♥

2010-04-26T14:58:00.007+10:00

Okay, I just had to share my latest obsession with you...I know I have been a slack as blogger...sorry...but these babies will more than make up for it!

and if you want one you can get them here...

www.susehocking.etsy.com

also, please have a look at my and mum's new photography shop...don;t forget to leave some ♥

www.thejoyofcolour.etsy.com

In other news, we had a lovely bbq lunch at mum and dad's for ANZAC day...we didn't get to any parades this year as the girls are a bit young and noisy...but when they grow up a bit then we will take them for sure.

Angi is growing up so fast..next post will be a family photo post I think...both the girls are growing up way to fast for my liking!!!

Anyway, in case you are wondering about my pattern line...I put it on hold for a little while as we have had some sickness in the family and I have not been sleeping...which makes it hard to concentrate on measurements and things. I literally have not touched my sewing machine in about 2 months...but I plan to get back to it real soon, I promise...there are a few patterns just waiting to be finished and then I will be releasing them...YAY!

In the meantime I have been crocheting and cardmaking a lot...so keep an eye on here for updates there too.

Thanks for putting up with my slackness.

♥ Suse xx

ouchie

2010-04-09T07:03:00.008+10:00

Well, I know it has been a while...since I last posted...things have been a bit crazy here...Angi was sick and then teething (6 teeth all at once and four of those were molars)...but she seems back to her usual funny little self. Natti is on holidays from kindy ao she has been keeping me busy (read...crazy!)...And then yesterday I had a mole cut out from my left big toe...it really hurts! Plus, I have just been reopening my etsy store and trying to get stock up and...I MADE MY FIRST SALE!!!!! Yeah, I know it was only a $2 card, but it was still a sale right? (Well, that is what I am going to keep telling myself anyway)..so I haven't been doing much pattern writing. I have a couple of designs nearly finished, just got to write.

And I know I promised some photos, so here are some of the things in my etsy shop

So I have been making some cute cards (I do custom orders of those as well, I had a custom order on etsy the other day) and I have been CROCHETING! Yes, I know, I jumped on tha bandwagon too. I haven't crocehted in a little while and I forgot how much I love to crochet!!! My Gran taught me not long ago, and I will forever be grateful and I will teach my girls to do the same...someone has to keep these things going through the generations!

Those scarves are the softest things! And they are so easy to make, once a friend of mine showed me how she made them...really quick...And you know all you southern hemispherers...winter is just around the corner!!! ;)

We are off on a little weekend 4x4 and camping trip today! YAY!!! Finally, but I won't be able to do any walking or go on the beach much...doc said that I might split the stitches in my toe if I do and I am to keep it in a sock and shoe unless I am sleeping...not allowed to get it wet or dirty for 3 whole days...should be interesting seeing as we are camping LOL...so I am taking my crocheting with me...going to try and make some shawls as well as scarves! YAY!

And hopefully I will come back with loads of photos of the fun times we had! Oh yes, and you have to check out this girls blog. She is a crack up and makes some gorgeous soy candles in jars as well as some jewellery and other bits and pieces.

Anyways, have a great weekend!!!

Cheers, Suse xx

Drum roll please........

2010-04-01T13:18:00.004+10:00

and the lucky winner (picked using the trusty online random number generator) is........

No. 1 - Kerriann aka Browndogtruckingco

Congrats Kerriann...please email me at susan_hocking@hotmail.com with the pattern that you would like to receive, and your postal address, and I will pop it in the post after the long weekend.

thanks to everyone that entered.

Cheers, Suse xx

ONE more day...

2010-03-31T08:54:00.003+10:00

to get your entries in for this giveaway...

so hurry, tell everyone about it and get your entries in!

I promise I will have some photos of *stuff* for you tomorrow...my posts have been rather wordy and lacking in the visual prettiness...but I have been mucking around with different crafty things...no new patterns are ready yet, but soon, hopefully...also, soon, my etsy shop will have a few more fun goodies in it...I still have not had a sale there, so hoping these cute newbie goodies will sell...

also have been getting ready for this conference...they have an expo where I am selling some of my wares...so I am going to be busy making brooches, hairclips, little purses and getting my patterns ready...should be fun.

Anyway, back to home life...

Cheers, Suse xx

So excited!!!

2010-03-27T11:03:00.003+10:00

Yes, I know, two blog posts within the hour, but I just had to show you this...

Sandra was the winner of my first pattern giveaway for Glenda's Tea Garden and she has finished it (minus the quilting...and she has done an AMAZING job of it!!! It is the first one made that I have seen and I love love love it! I especially love how different it looks to the original! I love to see how people put their own spin on my designs!

thanks so much for sharing Sandra...it is simply stunning!

Cheers Suse xx

PS...make sure you leave some love on her blog...she really has done a brilliant job!

Giveaway time again!

2010-03-27T10:02:00.005+10:00

Since I have reached 100 fans on my facebook fanpage (well, 111 actually) I thought we could celebrate a little with a GIVEAWAY!!! YAY!

Who loves a giveaway...everyone I think...so here's the go...

Leave a comment here on THIS post for 1 entry

Post about this giveaway on your blog or facebook page and link it back to here, then leave another comment on THIS post linking to your post for a 2nd entry

So you can get up to 2 entries for this giveaway, and the winner will be chosen with a trusty random number generator (to save on paper and time).

The prize is one pattern of your choice from my pattern range.

I will close entries on Thursday the 1st of April at midday, AEST and the winner will be drawn that afternoon...Please make sure you leave some way for me to contact you in case you happen to be the lucky winner!

So, all said...enter away!

Cheers, Suse xx

Daybook 4

2010-03-26T10:49:00.003+10:00

For today... March 26th, 2010

Outside my window... The sun is starting to shine through the clouds

I am thinking... Not a heck of a lot actually...maybe what I could do for my next set of patterns.

I am thankful for... amazing new friends in our church.

I am wearing... my PJ's...yes, still LOL...haven't done this in a long time, I normally get dressed as soon as I get up.

I am remembering... my mum painstakingly sewing a quilt and all sorts of matching accessories, like curtains, bin covers, lamp shades and the like for my room...IN SECRET!

I am going... to stay home all day today...it will be hard, but I think it will be good.

From the kitchen... another cup of coffee, as soon as I post this.

I am creating... a fine mess of the pool table...it has been converted by me into a pattern packing/pattern designing table (much to Daniel's chagrin).

I am hoping... that someone local wants to come and sew with me...I need some sewing company.

I am hearing... The wiggles singing "Shimmy shake"...makes me want to shake it LOL.

I am wondering... what it is going to take to get my butt off this chair.

Pondering these words... "Come to me all you who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Around the house... Toys...everywhere...I let the girls go wild and play with everything all at once yesterday...paying for that now...at least they had some fun!

One of my favorite things... Dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves of the trees.

On a different note...I have started hand piecing a Dear Jane quilt...yes, I know, some might say I am crazy..but that is okay, because that fact has been established many times already...it is fun...so I am thinking I will start a Dear Jane day here on my little blog, just to show you where I am up to with it (This is going to take YEARS LOL)...So next week I will do a Dear Jane day and show you my little blocks that I have finished in that time...should be fun, hopefully.

cheers, Suse xx

Angella's Wish

2010-03-19T09:32:00.004+10:00

Okay, I was not going to reveal this one til next week so you could digest Sadies Sling Bag first, but I could not wait...so here is the latest from By Suse Hocking...

Angella's Wish

This quilt is made using a 1930's print style fabric which I TOTALLY love!!! And I actually made it for my youngest daughter Angella, as her baby quilt. As you can see I have left four large blank white spaces, that was deliberate...I am going to add Angi's full name, date of birth, place of birth, and a "love from mummy" in those empty blocks, and I left them blank on the pattern so you can add your own details!

With lovely log cabins and oh so cute vintage looking stitchery puppies, I think it is the perfect baby quilt...and the extyra nice thing about it, it is backed in a gorgeously cuddly flannelette! It is approximately 41" x 55" in size, so a bit bigger than a cot quilt.

Natti saw me making it and asked for one for her too, so I will be making her the same quilt, with the same fabric range, just in a different colourway.

The fabrics are called "Everything but the kitchen sink" by RJR fabrics and you can get them from here (although you may need to do an email or phone order for them because I don't think they are up on the website as yet).

Also, the photo makes them look a lot darker than they really are...they are really a lovely soft range of colours...perfect for baby, so don't be put off by my photo.

Cheers, suse xx

Sadies Sling Bag

2010-03-17T14:38:00.005+10:00

I would like to introduce to you...

Sadies Sling Bag

Sadie loves to go for little walks in the bushland around her home...and she always carries her notepad and pencils with her in her handy sling bag. It has a zipper so things don't fall out and it keeps her hands free all the time. Sadie loves her little sling bag. Don't you?

And here are some close ups of the pics on the cover shot...

This is actually me in this shot (thanks to my amazing hubby!)...Love this bag...I have my own one with owls all over it (will post a pic another day).

So, what do you think, and do you think I should do another giveaway?

Cheers, Suse xx

P.S. these are not in stores yet, but if you want one then pester your patchwork store owner to get some for you!

Winner, winner, you're a grinner!!!

2010-03-14T11:06:00.003+10:00

Hi all...sorry I am late with this, we had a shocking week in the Hocking household...I have got a chest infection, Angi has Bronchiolitis (AGAIN!!! GRRR!), Natti had weird tummy pains, and Daniel, well, nothing wrong with him really...so all in all a shocker, oh yes, and Angi managed to put her top teeth into her top lip yesterday...she walked past Natti in full swing on the swing set and got completely bowled over and smashed her little face into the concrete...poor munchy...although, it started to get fat it has gone down and there is no bruiding. her two little teeth are also okay, thank goodness! and this also all explains why my latest pattern has not yet been written...it will be ready THIS week, I promise!

Anyway...on to the winner of the Ruby Ruffles giveaway...only one winner today as I didn't get my 20 comments...so here is the lucky winner...from my trusty random number generator...

no. 12

Quiltin' Sandy said...
This bag is just so sweet! please enter me in your giveaway! I have onlyy made one bag so far but hopefully will get to make more in the future. Here's keeping my fingers crossed. Bye for now! ;-)

Congrats hun...please email me your address so I can post this off to you...and just so you know, you will probably be one of the first to have this pattern in your hot little hands, as it is currently only in one shop...Patchwork dreaming

Anyway, I better go and start writing that next pattern...just a hint, think more frills and a zipper (I promise the zipper is not hard)...I have been using it heaps and everyone who sees it wants to know where thay can get one...so I best get cracking!

Cheers, Suse xx

Thank you Leanne

2010-03-08T07:29:00.002+10:00

The amazing Leanne Love pattern tested Ruby ruffles for me...and I have now got the photos to show...this is her gorgeous, girly version of my Ruby ruffles Handbag...

Isn't it just sublime...I love those stripes and large polka dots!!

Thankyou hun for making this beautiful bag...I know you will use it heaps!!!

Cheers, Suse xx

PS...don't forget the giveaway...I am closing entries this Friday the 12th of March at NOON. So be sure to enter before then...only 10 more comments are needed to give away TWO patterns! So get commenting!

Are you sitting down????

2010-03-05T09:06:00.004+10:00

Make sure you are sitting down before you read this, or you may just fall over with shock...

I SCRAPPED!!!!!!!

For the first time in over a year, I scrapped! It helps to find the ol' scrapping desk under all my fabric and batting and such...and it helps to find out where everything is!!!

So without further ado...here is what I did...

"Blue Steel" (Reads "Honey, you have got Blue Steel down to a fine art")

I did this one last night...I seriously need to catch up on photos of Angi...this is only the second page I have done on her!!! SLACK AS!!! Don;t you love the MME papers (bear in mind I have not bought anything new in over a year and I seriously need to stash bust!!!).

"All Frocked Up" (Reads " Brian, the unofficial church photographer, took this photo of us girls in our long 'frocks'")

Okay, let me explain. Brian is in his 80's and runs around church taking photos of everyone! And the eldership only just convinced him to go digital last year...and to persuade him, they bought him a new digi camera (how nice of them...wonder if they will buy me one LOL)...so this particular night me and the girls just happened to be wearing long dresses and skirts and he deemed that photo worthy. Without Brian, I don't think there would be many photos of me!

Well, that's it from me, I need to go and scrap some more...oh yes, and go and get the cover for "Ruby Ruffles" printed...it will be in stores soon.

Oh, and don't forget to enter the giveaway a few posts down!!!

Cheers, suse xx

Daybook 3

2010-03-03T11:10:00.004+10:00

For today... March 3rd, 2010

Outside my window... It is raining and windy

I am thinking... that I need to get some patterns printed!

I am thankful for... an amazing hubby who spoils me by buying me daisy seeds and gardening gloves that fit me because we can't get daisy bushes til May.

I am wearing... black shirt, jeans and socks

I am remembering... twhen my girls were just tiny babies...makes me tear up!

I am going... to start writing my next pattern today.

From the kitchen... not much right now...I wish something yummy would just materialise without me having to get up from my chair.

I am creating... fun things for Natalie's room.

I am hoping... Someone buys some more patterns...need some cash to buy more fabric for my next design.

I am hearing... Rhiannon singing "Umbrella" on the radio.

I am wondering... if it is going to stop raining long enough for the kindy run.

Pondering these words... "Never sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate." - Mum

Around the house... oiles and piles of laundry - eck!

I am reading... nothing right now, except some blogs.

One of my favorite things... cuddles from my girls.

Todays picture...

Taken by Yours truly near White Swamp (QLD), while driving at 70 km's an hour (well, hubby was driving actually)...on the fly you might say.

Cheers, Suse xx

PS...don't forget the Ruby Ruffles giveaway in my last post...

Time for another giveaway!

2010-03-02T09:50:00.002+10:00

So, I thought it was time for another giveaway!

Ruby Ruffles is up for grabs, so leave a comment on this post for one entry, blog about it and leave another comment here with a link and that is a second entry.

If I get 20 comments or more on this post I will give away TWO Ruby Ruffles patterns...so comment away and let everyone know!

Cheers, Suse xx

Ruby Ruffles

2010-02-26T17:50:00.006+10:00

Introducing...

Ruby Ruffles

This is my latest pattern. Ruby Ruffles has a handbag and a little wrist purse, with lots of ruffles!Are they not just the very cutest!
Here are some closeups...

Ruby Ruffles Hand bag

Ruby's Wrist purse

Thankyou so much to my gorgeous friend Ruth for modelling these for me!

So...what do you think?

Let me know...

and a giveaway soon...

Cheers, Suse xx

We have a winner!!!

2010-02-26T17:08:00.002+10:00

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!

I plugged the numbers into a random number generator and the first number to come up was...

No. 11 - Sandra!!!

( http://samssewingroom.blogspot.com/ )

Oh yes, and I managed to get my 15 comments, so I have got another winner from my random number generator, and that is...

No. 13 - Lelbarnes!!!

CONGRATS girls!!! Please email me your addresses ASAP so I can post one of to you Post haste!

Now, I know I also said I would FINALLY show you what I have been working on. Can you just wait a teensy bit longer? Please? It has been raining here a fair bit and haven't had a chance to photograph my new baby until today, when I managed to sneak it in between showers...so keep a close eye, it may even be up tonight...but no promises...

Cheers, Suse xx

woohoo! Sneak peek time!!!

2010-02-24T09:54:00.006+10:00

That's right...remember that gorgeous pile of fabrics and buttons I showed you in my last post??? Well, they have 'materlialised' into something so fun...something that I just can't share yet...soon, so very soon, I am talking possibly by friday...do you think you can hold out til then???

No, I thought not, so I decided you could have a sneaky peek...

So...what do you think??? Don't you adore spots and ruffles?? I know I do, 2 of my very favourtie things!

On another note...the giveaway for "Glenda's Tea Garden" is ending soon. I will be closing the giveaway at noon AEST (note: not daylight savings time) on Friday the 26th of Feb, and I will be randomly drawing a winner.

So you have 2 days to get your entries in...tell everyone you know about it...and if I get more than 15 comments I will give away TWO patterns...so comment away on the "Glenda's Tea Garden and a Giveaway" post down below (sorry, you will have to scroll a bit to find it).

On the home front, I spent ALL day yesterday cleaning, rearranging and sorting out the girls play room (it isn't actually a room, it is the area of the large living area meant for a rumpus room, but it does the job)...I swept, and sorted and threw out and pushed furniture around until I was working up a fine sweat! I threw out a large rubbish bag of junk (you know, macca's toys, bits of paper, dead balloons...) and now I can actually see the floor and furniture! YAY! I have left Natti in charge of keeping it tidy...we will see how long before I need to do it again.

Angi is tottering around the house at an alarming speed now...she is getting so fast and stable on her feet, although, sometimes she gets too excited and her body moves forward faster than her little fat legs and she falls forward and face plants it...poor thing, she never cries, just gets back up laughing. She is such a cutie and looking more and more like her big sister everyday!

Well, I best be off, I want to go to bunnings and buy some daisy bushes. We are doing some landscaping very slowly, and daisies are just divine...so pretty and when they flower, they really flower. Speaking of daisies...here are some I bought the other day...they were normally $9 a bunch, but these were down to $3...don't know why, they looked fine to me...anyway, enjoy...

Cheers, Suse xx

Looky here...

2010-02-22T13:10:00.005+10:00

Oooh, I wonder what it could become...do you think you know??? Leave a comment and let me know what you think it may be...more sneaky peeks to come!

I love gumboots, and living where we do, on an acre, with lots of mud and plenty of water when it rains they are pretty much a must have! So I was walking with hubby around the yard the other day and came across a lovely puddle, and, just because I could, I stomped straight through it in my old gumboots. But alas, my foot started to get wet within! I was devastated! But it did mean I could get my hands on these gorgeous owl boots!

Aren't they just darling? I just had to replace Natti's boots as well as hers had faded horribly and were completely cracked around the ankles...so she now has a nice new pink pair. Angi has a red hand me down pair from Natti, still in brand new nick, but, alas, they are still too big, so she will just have to wait.

As you can see, you can now buy my patterns at a few more places. So far, you can get them at Patchwork Dreaming, Mulberry Hill, Under the Mulberry Tree, Patchworks plus and the JukeJema Quilting barn, So doin't forget to stop over there and have a sticky (links in sidebar).

Also, the comp is still going to run for a couple more days so we have a few more entries. If you would like to win acopy of "Glenda's Tea Garden" the head over here -->
http://susehocking.blogspot.com/2010/02/glendas-tea-garden.html and leave a comment, and in a few days I will randomly pick a winner and if I have enough entries I might pick a second winner as well, but I will need heaps more people to enter so tell everyone you know!

Oh yes, and if anyone knows how to link to a page without having to see the whole addy line, please let me know how, I feel behind the times LOL.

Well, off to go and play with that gorgeous fabric I just showed you!

Cheers, Suse xx

Daybook 2

2010-02-22T12:55:00.003+10:00

For today... February 22nd, 2010

Outside my window... The sun is shining and the sky is blue and the cicada's are singing a happy tune

I am thinking...about Natti at kindy, I hope she is having a good day

I am thankful for... my beautiful little girls!

I am wearing... black singlet and green shorts

I am remembering... to pay Natti's kindy fees today, they are late (whoops)

I am going... to do some housework today, even though I odn't really feel like it.

From the kitchen... cheese and ham muffins for lunch treats for the girls.

I am creating... a meal plan for the week. It's gonna be good!

I am hoping... the the guy who sold me my stupid phone will refund me or replace it!

I am hearing... the pedestal fan whirring behind me.

I am wondering... what time Daniel is coming home today.

Pondering these words... "Therefore, do not worry what you will wear or what you will eat..." in Matthew in the bible.

Around the house... lots and lots of toys scattered everywhere!

I am reading... still the faraway tree, and lots of crafty blogs.

One of my favorite things... Lemon lime and bitters! YUM!

Todays picture...

This is a sunrise that I took yesterday morning from the hill behind my house...see the dam in the foreground? How beautiful does it look! Had to get up before 5am to wait for this (actually, that wasn't too hard, I couldn't sleep so decided to get up and make the most of it!)

Cheers, suse xx

Daybook 1

2010-02-19T08:37:00.003+10:00

Okay, so Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches (see sidebar) has been doing a daybook entry thing, and she has inspired me to do the same so I can look back over my days and see how I felt each time I did an entry, should be interesting, so here goes...

For today...February 19th 2010

Outside my window... I see beautiful green Australian bush and gum trees.

I am thinking...about my next design...about red with white polka dots and lots and lots of ruffles.

I am thankful for... Playschool...when I really need some quiet from the girls.

I am wearing... pink pyjama singlet, blue fleece trackies and pink and white slippers.

I am remembering...I need to go and buy backing fabric for my latest quilt, and pick up my contact lenses from the post office.

I am going... to start my next design today.

From the kitchen...all is quiet on that front.

I am creating... something with ruffles and buttons...oh, I can't wait to show it to you!

I am hoping... My latest client comes through with a postal address before I go to the post office.

I am hearing... the songs of playschool and the crunching of little mouths eating breakfast.

I am wondering... how much it is going to cost me to have my latest quilt quilted by someone else!

Pondering these words... "You don't need to be motivated to do something you love." Rick Joyner

Around the house... Oh dear...I don't want to look.

I am reading... funnily enough, the faraway tree collection as well, Natti just loves it! As well as the book of Isaiah in the Bible.

One of my favorite things... mmmmm, chocolate fudge cookes, you know, the farmbake ones...yum!!!

So there you have it.

In other news, this is exciting, I have finished writing my second pattern, and it is being printed (courtesy of my amazing husband) as I type! Now all I have to do is have the project quilted and take some nice pics and she will be ready for release!!! So keep an eye out, maybe I will give you a sneaky peek a bit later, I have no pics as yet.

Also, don't forget to enter the giveaway a few posts down. If you want to win a copy of "Glenda's Tea Garden" the leave a comment down there, I will be picking a winner soon!

Well, that is it from me today, going to spend my day creating and playing with my little chickens!

Cheers, Suse xx

Too hot...

2010-02-16T12:53:00.006+10:00

to do much at the moment...and I mean even too hot for sleeping, at night, at all!!! Grr, very tired here. Anyway, too hot to do much, so I did a little clean up...this is a sort of before shot (I forgot to take a real before shot of before I put these on the reels...)

Before...

after...

Ah, now doesn't that look pretty? Much better than that ball of threads I had going on before...now the trick is to keep them looking like this...LOL, yeah right, I bet it won't last a week!

Don't forget the little giveaway in my presious post...please leave a comment down there...you could win a copy of my first ever pattern!

Cheers, Suse xx

Glenda's Tea Garden and a giveaway

2010-02-15T09:21:00.005+10:00

Yes, finally, I have finished writing and taking the photographs for my VERY FIRST pattern! I know, I am so excited...so without further ado...

Introducing...

I have used some vintage/retro looking fabric for this, but I think it would look gorgeous in just about any colours. It involves a bit of fussy cutting, blanket stitch applique, some hand quilting and some gorgeous ruffles...I could not have my first ever pattern without some ruffles!

I named it after my Mother-in-Law, firstly because it reminds me of her and her house, and secondly because when she first saw me making it she fell in love with the colours and patterns...So Glenda, this is for you! Mwah!

So, currently the only place stocking it is Patchwork Dreaming in School Street, Mudgeeraba. I have not dropped them off yet, but I will be doing so today! YAY. Lilyana has a gorgeous little shop there in the top story of a historic old queenslander...very cute little shop. Her website is http://www.patchworkdreaming.com.au/

Other than that, if you would like a pattern, you can email me at susan_hocking@hotmail.com and I will send you the payment details and get one posted to you ASAP.

Oh yes, and if you happen to own a store and would like to stock my patterns, then please email me as well.

So, tell me what you think of my very first pattern...leave a comment and I think I might even give one away. In fact, if you would like a FREE copy then leave a comment here, for an extra entry, blog about it and then leave another comment here with a link to your blogpost and I will randomly select a winner...come on...I know you all love a giveaway! So get into it!

More another day with some sneaky peeks of my next pattern...so cute. I think you will just love it!

Cheers, Suse xx

A troubled heart

2010-02-10T09:01:00.004+10:00

"So we don't look at the troubles we have right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever."

2 Corinthians 4:18

Okay, so right now this particular verse means a heck of a lot to me...the troubles will soon be over (hallelujah) and the joys to come will last forever (I am really looking forward to that!).

If you have seen my facebook lately you would know we are being attacked on the physical level with illnesses. For those who haven't, here's the gist of it:

Angi came down with what we thought was a severe case of gastro and she ended up in hospital over night about 3 weeks ago. She had a drip in her tiny arm and they toook blood and stool samples to make sure there was nothing serious going on. She seemed to get better so we carried on with life, as you do.

Natti started back at kindy last week and ended up with a cold, not so bad, you say, well, Angi got it and has ended up with what we and the doctors believe is Bronchiolits, again. This is the 4th time she has got it in her short little life. While at the doctors the other day, the stool sample test results came through (they took ages, I thought they would be through ages ago). And they revealed something really scary...Typhoid! How or where she got it I do not know. I am really annoyed that it took so long to get those results back to us with something as serious as this. I have looked typhoid up on google (yes, I know, self diagnosing...not good) and discovered that she could still possibly have it as she was not treated correctly, and it saaid that it could also develop a chest congestion...well, bronchiolitis is a chest congestion is it not...YIKES!!!!

And on top of that, I have not actually slept properly for about 2 months. Not becuase of the kids or anything, they are great sleepers, I think it may be caused by some kind of chemical imbalance or something, so all of this makes it hard to deal with this serious stuff!

o I am going to cling to the verse above...the trouble will soon be over and there will be joy to last forever...I hope that soon is really soon!

Sorry for the dump and offload, but I really needed to get that off my chest, and to share that amazing verse with such promise. Do you need to read that verse and keep it close to your heart right now? I hope that sharing this will have helped someone else to believe it too.

Cheers, Suse xx

an update...

2010-02-09T12:32:00.003+10:00

Okay, I see there are a few peeps wanting to give this pattern testing a try, well, I have devised a plan...I'm going to give you all a shot. What I will do is this...

When it comes to pattern testing time I will send a different person a pattern to test. So this time, I will send one to Dannii and one to Nat because I already said I would. The next pattern will be sent to the next person on the list, so Renee, you didn't miss out. Just keep commenting if you want to pattern test and we will see where that takes us. After a while I will choose one or two pattern testers who I believe do my designs the most justice...sort of like a competetion, if you want to call it that.

So what do you think? Yes? no? I just want to give people a go and also get my patterns out there...only just starting out and it is hard to see if this is even going to go anywhere...so your support is greatly appreciated!

I have finished writing my first pattern now. Just have to take the photo's for the cover shot, which is tricky at the moment because...IT WON'T STOP RAINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to show you though!!!

In other news, poor bubba Angi is sick, again! She has bronchiolitis, again. this is the 4th time she has had it and I am a bit cincerned that it comes back everytime she gets a touch sniffly. I also got the results from the stool sample they took when she was in hosiptal with waht we thought was severe gastro...it was not...it was TYPHOID! Oh my Word! What the heck??? Where on earth would she have got typhoid from? It is a mystery to be sure, but I am greatly annoyed that it took so long to get those results back...She is over it now, but it could have been much much much worse! Anyway, she won't sleep so I am going to have to go and sort her out.

Well, I have my next project underway, so exciting. I will give you some sneak peeks soon!

Cheers Suse xx

pattern testers

2010-02-08T14:02:00.003+10:00

Okay, so I haven't made it on in a while what with sick kids, me not sleeping and generally not feeling like turning on the computer (because there is something wrong with it and it takes 30 minutes to boot up...stupid thing!)...oh yes, an dI have been sewing, lots.

Now, I only had 2 people interested in pattern testing for me, well, girls, Dannii and Nat...you lucky things...how about I send you both the pattern and you can both test it for me...just email me at susan_hocking@hotmail.com and give me your postal addresses so that when I get off my lazy butt and actually write up the pattern I can send it to you. I will also email you back with what I need you to do for me...Thanks girls...you rock! Yay for pattern testers!

So yes, the first thing I made for a pattern is complete, and has been for a while, but I just need to write the pattern...so, as soon as I have done that I will show you all right here on my little bloggy.

Um, what else, oh yes, if you do happen to find this blog and like the pattern and would like to buy it, so far the only place you can get it is...from me. So you will need to email me and let me know you want it and I will email you back with payment details and so forth.

Anyways, I am off to blog surf...so love blog surfing, don't you?

Chhers, Suse xx

Sneaky peek

2010-01-29T09:39:00.003+10:00

Ok, just to tantalize your taste buds (or make your stitching fingers itch LOL) here is a little sneak peek of my first ever pattern...just a little peek, not giving away too much...

Think vintage/retro prints, hand applique (or machine if you are so inclined) and some cute hand quilting...this is so exciting!

I also have another Very cool pattern idea forming in my little brain...I have the applique ideas but just not sure what to put them on yet...soon, very soon my friends.

Oh yes, and one more thing...I am looking for a pattern tester. If you think you have what it takes to test my patterns for me, then leave a comment and a link to your blog so I can see what you do. You will get a copy of each of my patterns to keep and you can use whatever fabrics you like. I will email the successful person with more details later...so tell everyone you know!

Cheers, Suse xx

Angi

2010-01-27T10:51:00.002+10:00

Well, I haven't been around much in the last week or so, and here is why...

Remember I said in my last post I took Angi to hospital last Tuesday night with severe gastro, and they sent us home? Well, we ended up back again on Thursday night. We ended up being transferred to Southport Hospital and she stayed overnight. She did not eat for 3 days prior to this, nor did she drink that much, plus she started vomiting as well. So they had her on a drip, poor thing...it was like De Ja Vue because we had to do the same with Natti around the same age, except her condition was a lot worse.

So after a night in the hospital and much fluids we came home Friday arvo. She is doing much better now, the runny tummy seems to have slowed down considerably and no more vomiting. Drinking heaps of fluids, but still not eating very much. My chubba bubba has lost almost a kilo...Thankfully she was chubba in the first place.

Another thing that has kept me from the computer a little is something I can't really show you right now, a little piecing here, a little stitching there...and soon I will have my very first pattern ready! YAY!!! So keep your eyes peeled here, because as soon as it is ready and proofread and checked and in my local patchwork store I will show you and I will have a giveaway! ...goodie goodie goodie...so let everyone know, should be fun!

Natti started back at kindy today! Hip hip hooray! She was super excited this morning, if not a little nervous, so I will see how she went when I pick her up this arvo. The relative peace and quiet is nice (I still have Angi at home with me), but I do miss my big girl. After spending 3 months with her at home again I have grown used to her constant talking and asking for things, but mostly to the extra cuddles and "I love you mummy"s and the "you're the best mummy in the world"s.

Sorry for the lack of photos, the computer has been stuffing us around a little, so I can't really get my photos off the camera and onto the PC at the moment. Maybe next time.

Cheers, Suse xx

Some bags and a sick chicken...

2010-01-20T21:21:00.008+10:00

Ok, first off, Angi has severe gastro...poor little thing! I took her to the hospital last night...at bout 10pm...mainly because Medicall doesn't service my suburb....WE ARE NOT THAT FAR OUT IN THE STICKS PEOPLE!!! It is less that 10 minutes to town from here!!! I was so angry with them for fobbing me and my feverish 1 year old off like that! GRRR HISS! Anyway, at least at the hospital they saw her pretty quickly...they sent us home...at 1am with instructions to keep up her fluids and give panadol and nurofen as necessary...sure no worries...if you could force her to drink water! So if she gets another temp tonight...guess where we are going again...YAY! NOT! Little one has actually fallen asleep on the TV room floor in front of me...she has slept all day and cried constantly when awake...to top things off I haven't been feeling so crash hot myself, Natti has been super demanding and Daniel is on nightworks again! Fun...NOT! Anyway, enough whinging from me now...

I have been busy sewing...

I made this bag for my MIL, as a get well soon gift (she had to have a melanoma removed from her face on Monday - praise the Lord, she has been given the all clear)...

It is fully lined with a double pocket inside, made with upholstery fabric that I just couldn't resist! I made it using a Cath Kidston pattern as a base, basically I got the shape from one of her patterns, enlarged it, and added ling, tab, pockets and changed it around a bit to make it more mine...What do you think?

Oh, and don't you love this fun loveheart button...I think it is super cute!

My friend Suse (yes, another Suse) is having her birthday on Friday so I made her this...

It is my version of Janelle Wind's @home messenger bag. These colours are so Suse, and she loves things like this...loves houses and such. she is a primary school teacher, so I made it for her to take to school, so that when she is stressed out and she looks at it she can have a "haaaaaa" moment...hehe. Gotrta love those moments.

I made another Washbag out of Cath Kidstons book "SEW!" for my mum's birthday (which was today)...I forgot to take pics of it, but I will get some soon...it turned out alright...it was a bit tricky, but I got there in the end...mum loved it and I guess that is all that matters isn't it.

Well, I best be off and tend to my sick baby (and my rumbling tummy - I am starved!)

Cheers, Suse xx

The things kids say...

2010-01-18T07:03:00.002+10:00

I thought I just had to post these very funny and cute quotes from my little Natalie...they have me in stitches every time she says them or new ones...she is a very, very chatty child (takes after her mother I guess...LOL). When I say chatty, here is an example. She never stops talking, so in the car I put on some music to attempt to stop the constant flow of words streaming from between her lips, so she just speaks louder LOL...anyway, so here are some of the funn things she has said recently...

She was misbehaving rather badly in the shops the other day, so I bent over and whispered in her ear, "If you don't stop right now I am going to give you a hiding!" (I only give smacks occassionally, and therefore they work rather effectively)...and she comes back with "but mummy, I can't see anywhere to hide..." so I explained that a hiding was a big smack, to which she replied "Well I better start looking for somewhere good to hide!"

The girls and I were in the car with my mum and Natalie was once again asking for a million things, so my mum turns around and tells her No, she can't have that, so she says, "Ouma, I was talking to mummy!"...So I said, "Well Mummy says No too." Mum then says "You know Natti, I am your mummy's mummy, and that makes me the boss." Natalie was quiet for a few minutes and then she pipes up with "actually Ouma, Granny farm is your mummy, so she is really the boss!"

During the after Christmas sales we did a lot of shopping. Near the end of one particularly gruelling shopping session Natgti comes out with..."Mummy, I think my legs are going to fall off and I think I am going to die!." We walk into yet one more store and she stands in the middle of it, raises her hands in the air and shouts out "MUMMY you are shopping me into the ground!!!"

My mum babysat her for me when I was a bridesmaid for my brothers wedding and she was telling my mum about her holidays..." I am on holiday and so is daddy, and Ouma, it is a shopping holiday...Mummy lives at the shops you know...I don't like shopping anymore...it makes my legs fall off!!!"

So there you go, the thoughts of a 4 year old girl...she seriously cracks me up...it is really hard to hold a straight face when she does that...Just so you know, she is an awesome prayer too...is it so cute and she pretty much gets whatever she prays for too, amazing...I guess it is that childlike faith...it really inspires me to try to be that little bit more faithful...she says prayers like "Dear Jesus, please give us a pram parking, amen" and wham...there is nice big pram parking for us! How good is that!

Well, I will leave you with that...I have made a few more bags, but alas, I have not taken piccies of them yet...maybe when I get my lazy butt out of this chair I might just do that.

Cheers, Suse xx

TURTLE!!!!

2010-01-13T08:44:00.007+10:00

This here post is especially for the lovely Janelle Wind (see sidebar -->)...Janelle, I left a comment on your blog about the fabric I was working with at the moment, and I didn't know what it was, and I promised a link to my turtle I made with it...well, here it is...

Meet Bonza...

Natalie absolutely adores this little guy. She came up with the Occa name too! I got the pattern from a Homespun magazine and his name is actually Tickle the Turtle in the mag...I will have to go and look for the mag and get the credentials on it...but isn't he a cutie??

Well, I guess that's it for now...just wanted to make good on my comment to Janelle...I will work on some collages in photoshop of Christmas, Angi's birthday and my brother, Ken's wedding.

Cheers, Suse xx

Whoa!

2010-01-12T14:53:00.006+10:00

It's been a while...Hi world...ha, I bet no-one even reads this thing...Oh well, I guess I will just keep it up for fun and pretend someone out there reads this...

It has been soooooooo busy here lately...we celebrated Christmas over three LONG days (Christmas eve, day and boxing day with all different family members), then on the 27th we had Angella's very 1st birthday...so we had a family party for her (because I was so tired and not up to a big party straight away, plus I wasn't very organised!)...then 2 days later was my MIL's birthday...then New years eve, which was a total blast at our friend's, Mon and Tane's place...we playewd rock band all night, along with some Kiwi card games, so much fun. Then on the 2nd of Jan, my brother got married...so much fun, but also so tiring. I was a bridesmaid, Daniel was my groomsman, and my girls were flower girls...it was FULL ON!!! Then a weeks break (sort of) and then we had a proper party for Angi...and the list goes on, we still have my new SIL's 21st tomorrow night and several other dinners and functions to attend...man, I need a holiday LOL...by myself...far away...with absolutely noone around...did I mention by myself???

Blah blah blah...what a ramble, sheesh, sorry...anyway, onto craftiness, which there has not been a lot of lately.

I did make a lovely new handbag for my Gran for Christmas, a Janelle Wind creation, the Thelma bag...love those bags so much...also finished Janelle's Frilly Dilly bag for myself (FINALLY!) and I sewed a patchwork turtle for Natti from a homespun mag...sorry, can't remember which one, and no photos yet...slack as...maybe next time. Although, I really want to get back into it because Daniel bought me a lovely Christmas present...an OVERLOCKER!! Finally...love it so much!

I have also been trying very hard to be a better stay at home mum...keeping the house in order is definitely a skill I need to work on, and I have been trying very hard...yay...go me! I find that if I get up when Daniel leaves for work I usually have between 1 and 2 hours before the girls wake up (yes, I am very blessed, they both usually sleep in til 8 or 9am) so I zoom through the house and do as much as I can while they sleep. I obviously leave the noisy chores like vacuuming until they are awake...I also find if the beds are made everything looks better and I feel better about it all...now to just keep it up...kinda like a new years res...except I refuse to do those LOL.

Well, I guess I have bored everyone enough (everyone...pah! Probably only myself LOL)...well self...I guess I will add photos another time...feeling too lazy right now...or maybe I could find a couple of the girls or something...maybe Christmas, I will have a look.

Cheers, Suse xx

It is raining today...

2009-09-04T16:15:00.010+10:00

Okay, so we were meant to be going for a picnic at the beach this morning with my other mummy friends and their gorgeous kids when it started to do this...

So we ended up going to Robina Town Centre to meet up for a coffee...We must have looked funny because we all sat in the food court eating our lunch that we had packed for our picnic (we didn't want to waste it LOL).

Anyway, after that we came home and it was still raining so we set this up...

and had our own little picnic in the lounge...

while a certain little munchkin did a bit of this...

Oh yes, and Natalie got a lovely surprise in the mail...she loves getting mail...so needless to say she squealed with delight when she found a letter addressed for her on the doorstep. It was a birthday card from one of her kindy friends (her brthday is 2 weeks away) saying that she was very disappointed that she would be away on holiday when Natti's party was to be held, but that she would love a playdate when they got back and that they were moving to a house round the corner from us. Natalie was thrilled...except for the part that she couldn't come to the party, but she handled it really well. Such a big girl!

Also, some other exciting news is that one of my close girlfriends, who also lives just round the corner, had a baby boy on Monday night...I still haven't gone to see her, but she will have been inundated with visitors, so I might wait til next week to pay her a visit. Can't wait to meet her new little man!

Also, keep an eye over here, because VERY soon I will be posting a giveaway...yes, that is right a giveaway...tell your friends, tell everyone you know in cyberland, because it is going to be fun!

Anyways, Cheers for now...

Lve Suse xx

this little guy...

2009-09-03T14:39:00.004+10:00

is winging his way to my good friend Heather as we speak, along with this very cute change mat...and look, I even have labels now...YAY!!!

Natti didn't really want to let him go...

Isn't she just beautiful (Natti, not the monkey LOL)?

Cheers
Suse xx

new

2009-09-03T14:37:00.002+10:00

yup...new goodies can now be found in my etsy store...just follow this link to the new hairclips I have put up...they are really cute, even if I do say so myself...Natti has a few sets of them and she loves them!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5447157&section_id=6387893

Bad, bad blogger!

2009-08-31T12:05:00.009+10:00

Yes, I know...naughty, naughty! Sorry, I will try a bit harder LOL.

So, what has been happening...well, life in general I would say. My babies are growing up way too fast. Natti will be 4 in 3 weeks and Angi will be 1 in 4 months...no, no, no...you both have to stop growing right away!!!

Angi is on the cusp of full blown crawling...she crawls super slowly and then lazes out and decides to just sit there and blow raspberries in my direction...super cute!!!

Natti just wants to work outside with her daddy 24/7 and when she is not doing that she wants to be sewing and crafting with me...she has even started her very first stitchery (which is going VERY slowly...she only does about 3 stitches and then claims she needs a rest...must be such hard work LOL). Oh yes, and she has been beading madly...loves it. Makes a heck of a mess, but then that is to be expected when you give an almost 4 year old 3 boxes of beads LOL. Oh, and did I mention I gave her a haircut...I cried...it was not meant to happen! I was so upset and cried for days...Now she has lost all the ringlets and blonde bits...but I am getting used to it now. In this pic I think I had cut it the day before, but it is getting longer now and about at her shoulders now...looks heaps better now that it did when I first did it...what is truly scary is that she looks exactly like me at that age now! Freaky! I have a clone!

Daniel has been working overtime on our landscaping...we currently done have a single blade of grass around the place...just lots of dirt and a bobcat...but soon we will have grass YAY! picnics and blow up swimming pool here we come!!!

Me...well I have been giving my sewing machine a thorough work out everyday...not much is finished but loads of WIP all over my craft room...I really need to finish some of them! Although, I did finish a couple of these Ruffle skirts from grand revival designs, which yoiu can find here... http://grandrevivaldesign.typepad.com/photos/ruffled_skirts_tutorial/index.html so super easy to make and so quick...will have to take a pic of NAtti in both her skirts to show!

giveaway over...

2009-07-13T11:56:00.002+10:00

here... http://earlessowl.blogspot.com/

OMW you have to have a look...they are just soooooooo cute!!! I so want one!

You can also check out her etsy here... www.tinyowlknits.etsy.com

You have to have a look...she has this gorgeous seahorse...love it to bits!

Cheeky cherry Owlivia

2009-07-09T11:38:00.005+10:00

Here she is...

"Cheeky Cherry Owlivia"

She is my newest little friend and she forms the pocket on this fun denim tote bag...

Of course the bag is fully lined...who does not love red polka dots? And it has a nifty little pocket inside so you don't lose your keys amongsth the other stuff that ends up in the bottom of a bag...

And of course, this little Owlivia is fully hand stitched...wouldn't be the same if she was machine stitched now would she?

So...if you want her...she is available in my Etsy shop (see sidebar).

In other news...

it has been freezing here!!!!

and because of that, my poor little Angella has got a nasty little cold...poor thing is sniffling constantly...have to keep the vaporiser going much of the time. Poor little sausage.

She is sitting all by herself wo nicely now...and she is super proud of herself...also wolfing down any pureed food that passes by her lips...getting chubbier and chubber as the days go by. I love that little sausage to bits.

Natti has been on holiday fo ages now...and e can't wait to go back to kindy and see her friends. She has been keeping herself busy by blowing bubbles, playing outside and drawing...oh yes, and asking if we can go shopping all the tim...funny little thing! I love that slightly bigger sausage to bits too!

Well, I best go and do some housework...I have done absolutely none ever since I opened my etsy store...it is just so addictive over there! Now I just need someone to buy something from me LOL...then I might feel I have achieved something this week LOL. Also, I need to sort out the house because our lovely friends are coming over for dinner tomorrow night. Then the boys are going to play pool and watch movies while us girls do some fun craft! YAY!

So, off to vacuum (joy :() ).

Till next time...cheers

Love Suse xx

Meet "Owlando:...

2009-07-07T15:21:00.006+10:00

"Owlando"

Owlando is a shy little guy who has a little crush on Little Owlivia...but don't tell her, Owlando would be very embarrassed if she knew...who knows, maybe Owlivia feels the same...

Only time will tell...

If you love this little guy, he is available in my Etsy store

www.susehocking.etsy.com

So why not drop in and have a little look around...soon there will be even more to see...just have to get off this internet and photograph some more of my goodies.

Love Suse xx

I have made some new little friends...

2009-07-05T15:48:00.005+10:00

I would like to introduce you to...

"Wanda"

and...

"Owlivia"

These are two of my newest friends that I have created for "Suse Hocking Designs".

They are for sale on Ebay at the moment, so if you want one of these gorgeous girls you will have to be quick. They are normally $30 each, but the starting bid is only $10!!!

If you do miss out though, don't worry, just send me an email at Susan_hocking@hotmail.com

and tell me which little friend you would like on a shirt and what size and shirt colour and I can make one just for you. Don't forget to give me your address so I can post them off to you too (A postage cost will apply if you can't pick it up).

I am in the process of making some little boyfriends for them and a whole gaggle of other friends as well...so make sure you keep an eye on here to see who comes next!

Love Suse xx

Latest photo shoot of Natti

2009-06-18T21:21:00.016+10:00

These were taken in our new backyard this afternoon...I love these. It has been a while since I have done a good photoshoot...looking forward to getting back into it now.

Hope you like!

Cheers, Suse xx

Finally...

2009-06-11T13:50:00.014+10:00

Wow...it has been a long while...we haven't had internet for AGES! And I must say, I thought I would go absolutely bonkers without it...but to be honest...I have been fine...in fact we have had it for a while now and I have not been on it much at all!

We are in the new house now and loving it...although, after about a month we noticed a shower leak...and it had leaked between the wall panels and all through the carpet in the walk-in-robe and the study...and it has taken close to another month or more to get it fixed...we had to threaten the builders with BSA action to get things happening! But that is ok...loving living in Bonogin...even though it is absolutely FREEZING!!!!!!! Here at the moment and it isn't even fully winter yet! We probably had frost early this morning...but I'll be darned if I am going outside that early to check...way too cold. But good news...our reverse cycle AC is being installed tomoroow...so no more cold mummy's and children in this house YIPPEE!!!!!

The girls are growing up way too fast...Natti will be 4 soon and Angi is 5.5 months now...nearly time for her 6 month shots (YIKES)...I will try and find some photos to show you how gorgeous they have gotten. Angi got dedicated last Sunday and it was a lovely service...then a whole bunch of people came over for lunch and we got to test out the house's capacity...it was fine! Heaps of room. Angi is rolling and wriggling all around the place now...also her sleeping habits have gone downhill a little. She went from 10 weeks of doing 11 hours a night (from 11 weeks old) to being difficult and unpredictable. She is also on solids now and loving it...still no teeth. Natti is at kindy and loving every minute of it. She is learning so much and finally making some friends.

I have been designing and hand stitching those cute singlets you saw in a couple of posts back and I have sold a few and had some orders. I have 2 up on ebay at the moment if you want to have a look...just look up girls and boys baby singlets...here is what they look like...

I do take orders so if anyone is interested...let me know and I will see what I can do :-)

And lastly...Leanne Love tagged me...so here it is...

Q1. What are 8 things you look forward to:

1. Daniel coming home from work

2. The weekend

3. Not being so sick
4. The girls not being so sick

5. summer

6. Our Fraser Island trip

7. All my friends having their babies this year

8. Brother Ken and his fiance Jess's wedding in January

Q2 What are 8 things that you did yesterday:

1. Went shopping

2. Had tea at The Groove Train in the new dining precinct in Robina Town Centre

3. Fed the girls their lunch

4. Bathed the girls

5. Watched TV

6. Did not much tidying up

7. Rested because I am sick

8. Surfed the net

Q3. What are the 8 things you wish you could do:

1. Go see my family in the USA

2. Go to New Zealand

3. Have another baby (so not going to happen...get way too sick)

4. Fly my grandparents over to Australia so they can meet Angi and spend time with my girls

5. Whistle with my fingers

6. Get the roast downpat

7. Go to Tasmania

8. Design my own quilt and sewing patterns

Q4. Name 8 things or shows you've watched lately:

1. A mini talent show at the family service at church

2. How I met your mother

3. The news

4. Natalie ride her trike

5. People in the shopping centre

6. Top Gear Australia

7. The Simpsons

8. The fish in our fish tank.

I don't really know who to tag so if you feel like doing this, feel free :-)

cheers, Suse xx

Sucked in...

2009-03-19T16:16:00.002+10:00

Yes...I got sucked in to Twitter...another thing that has me addicted...so silly really, but it is fun...as you can see in my sidebar...there are my twitter updates and there is a little link at the bottom saying "follow me on twitter"...why don't you come along and follow me...come on...join the fun...you know you want to...Really...you want to (using Jedi powers...or attempting to anyway LOL).

So exciting...we get the keys to our very first home tomorrow!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! About time too...this was meant to happen way back in November...but the builders and ub contractors have been slack as...but finally it is happening! I can't wait to make this new house a real home for my little family...on acreage...nice and big in the country, but still not too far from town...just far enough. Oh the bliss...plus...I get my very own craft room...well, I kinda have to share it with Daniel's long unused gym equipment...but mostly it is my room! Also I can't wait to finally do up the nursery...angi still has not got her own room and is still sleeping in the bassinette in our room, poor sausage...and seeing as she is sleeping through 10 hours a night it is time to move her to her own room seeing as she no longer night feeds...

YAY for new houses!!!!

Cheers Suse xx

PS...come follow me on Twitter!

My very first quilt!

2009-03-13T06:58:00.004+10:00

Well, as promised..here are the pics of my very first ever finished quilt. I made it hard for myself by not using a pattern...so I had to come up with all the measurements myself, which was tricky. I made it for my brother Ken and his Fiance Jess as an engagement present and I think it is lovely, despite the fact I didn't have a walking foot on my machine and it pulled all over the place...it was a good effort for a first timer...and besides...I didn't even know I needed a walking foot...I will be buying one before I quilt another one LOL...so, without further ado...the quilt...

I used the Shangri-La fabrics...I think they are by Max New...someone correct me if I am wrong...aren't they just gorgeous fabrics?

I need a name for this quilt girls...so if you have a good one...leave a message and let me know what you think I should call it...

And of course...my little model Natti..."Mummy, take photo of me with Ken and Jessie's blanket!"...she looks a bit funny in this one...she has a double chin there which she doesn't usually have...gets that from her mummy LOL.

and now for...

GET REAL BABY!

* Really I am still sitting her in my jammies and so are both the girls LOL

* I once again have piles of washing lying around the house

* Really we have had pizza, pies and chips and other bad foods for dinner every night this week because I haven't been able to get out to do the groceries.

* Really I am super irritated at our builders.

* Really I plan to sew all day instead of do housework (yes, I know...naughty naughty LOL)

* Really I have gone through 4 bottles of traditional creamy soda on my own this week (such a weakness!)

* Really, Natti didn't sleep yesterday even though she really needed to.

* Really, I am loving my 2 girls...such blessings.

* Really I am so in love with my hubby Daniel...he is an amazing gift from the Lord just for me!

and that will do for now...I am off to check my facebook and work on my frilly dilly bag.

Leave a message...

Cheers Suse xx

Life's Journey

My One Word

Hold onto your seats people...

"Mary"

WAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Finally...a garden update!

The Delighted Blythe

Sewing for dollies...

Oh my giddy Aunt!

My secret is out!

My cushions

EGGCITED!!!!!

Yeah, yeah, I know...

Natti's 6th birthday party

Looky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just so you know...

This weeks bakes

Progress report and some new feathered family members

In my garden

mmmm...what is that yummy smell???

Eco-friendly

An old friend

A weekend spent in the garden

Troubled sleep?

Come on Spring!!

Hi *Waves madly*

PDF patterns

Exciting times...

and the winner is......

{iPad sleeve giveaway}

♥ Proud Mummy Moment ♥

stitching sneak peak

BRRRR!!!

I did something really dumb...

I have a new obsession...

Doggy days...or should that be daze?

oops

A new Design...

WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Giveaway time again :)

It's my first time...

Where the Wind Blows

Welcome to Hocking's Farm!!!!

SALE ON NOW!!!!!

Do not worry!

Website

Sorry...

More yarn...

A little colour therapy

A bit of hooky...

Movie world and a strawberry picnic :)

AAAHHHHH!!! Sneak peek!

Lookie what I got today!!!

It's been a while...

And the winner is.....

It is GIVEAWAY time again!!!

Ruffle Skirt Mania!!!

New cards...

cupcake ♥♥♥♥

ouchie

Drum roll please........

ONE more day...

So excited!!!

Giveaway time again!

Daybook 4

Angella's Wish

Sadies Sling Bag

Winner, winner, you're a grinner!!!

Thank you Leanne

Are you sitting down????

Daybook 3

Time for another giveaway!

Ruby Ruffles

We have a winner!!!

woohoo! Sneak peek time!!!

Looky here...

Daybook 2

Daybook 1

Too hot...

Glenda's Tea Garden and a giveaway

Hi Waves madly