Open For Business

Open for business

Well hello there! Seems I took an extended and unscheduled break from blogging, I really don't know where the time goes, but I do know that I missed blogging and visiting all of your lovely blogs!   

Here's a few things I've learned over the past month or so:

- Starting up a business takes way longer than expected - I'm starting to wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew!  Have I dived in too quick? Maybe, but then it's all part of the adventure right? 

- Nothing gets done once your little one drops their daytime nap, in fact it's better to get out of the  house rather than be driven nuts having everything pulled out and thrown on the floor as you're trying to tidy up the house.  And if I think I can get some quiet time to myself, I'm just asking for trouble, so it goes without saying that blogging has gone out the window during the day.

- Sleep is good and necessary, as I've learned since going to bed at a half-decent time (so again, no blogging).

- Birthdays are really "birthweeks", there's the actual birthday, then there's cakes to be baked for school or daycare, then of course the family get togethers.  So with both of my kids' birthdays within two weeks of eachother, this has been kind of a busy time for us!

- And lastly, how filthy is my house? How have I let things go like this?..the glass doors, through which I saw clearly..once!  So what am I doing here then, blogging?  Hmm, I guess I'm going to have to step things up a notch if I'm to become a work from home mum!

Anyway,  all that aside, I finally have my own madeit store open and would love for you to pay a visit over here.  I'm also in the process of setting up my own webpage which will feature an extended range of items, handmade along with lot of other unique goodies from various places.

In the meantime, I can be found "frolicking"on facebook so why don't you join me there, drop me a line and keep updated on new products and giveaways. 

Now I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what you've all been up to!

xSam



My Creative Space

Working on a few designs for my online store opening up soon.  The personalised name cushion is going to my nephew as a christening present, but I'll be whipping up a few more for my shop, I just love the three little pigs fabric and I'm really enjoying hand embroidery at the moment.  

I'm hoping to get this store open very soon, but there's still a little work to be done, a few things to nut out, it's all very exciting, daunting, but very exciting!

The idea of being able to work from home sounds good to me, it means I can do more of what I love, work around the kids and be home for them. Too good to be true? Maybe..well atleast I'll have fun trying!


Tell me, do you work from home? Any tips for me, just starting out in this business?

Joining in with My Creative Space over at Village Voices today.

xSam

Grateful

Grateful for pets and the kindness that they bring out in my kids.

Lately I've caught quite a few moments that made me stop and smile and just feel so grateful..moments where my kids are being so gentle and loving with their pets.  

I have to admit that since having children, our pets have kind of taken a back seat.  Not to mention how they've put up with their fair share of tail pulling, chasing and general noise from the kids, but lately I've really noticed my kid's have developed a very special relationship with their pets.  They are forever checking up on their furry friends, making sure they have enough food and water, that the dog has his warm jacket on, and often let him inside to warm up (well afterall, the cat gets to be inside whenever he pleases).  

I often catch the kids enjoying quiet moments having a chat with their furry friends and patting them gently, worrying about them if they are sick or injured, which restores my faith in their kind and caring spirits. 

It really warms my heart to see the trust that the kids have built up with their pets, the love that they express and the satisfaction that it brings them to be with their pets.

I admit that I have often questioned whether we made the right decision of having pets, with the responsibility, extra work and costs involved, but I just can't imagine our life without them, or how my children would learn the valuable lessons of friendship, kindness and responsibility that come with owning a pet.

Joining in with villagevoices for a Grateful reunion today, why not pop over there?

xSam

  

My Creative Space - Completed Granny Square Cushion

You may remember I was working on a spiderman granny cushion for my son last year.  I decided against applying a spiderman applique to it (couldn't find one anyway), however, I couldn't decide or find the right buttons for it.  So it's been floating buttonless around the house for months, and really annoying me as the insert keeps hanging out and getting pulled out by the kids.  Well I finally found some buttons and finished it off this week.  

I'm still not sure that I like the wooden buttons but I think they do enhance the vintage feel and are practical for fitting through the large holes.  I could have sewn up the opening, but this way the cover can be removed and washed.

This is one of my first granny square projects, and being impatient as I can often be, I made the mistake of not sewing in some of the ends, so please don't look too closely..I had to go back and fix up those loose ends..BIG Lesson for me - Don't cut corners, it just means going back and fixing later (that's if it's not too late and hasn't become unravelled or lost it's shape).

So have you tied up any loose ends this week? Maybe you finished something that you've been putting off.  

Joining in with lots of clever and crafty folk over at My Creative Space today.

xSam

And The Winner Is..

It was one of those mornings, lots of arguing, yelling and teasing, all before breakfast..   


However, after enjoying some lovely free range eggs from my mother-in-law, numerous coffees, and some fresh air at soccer, things are starting to look up!    


So now it's time to draw the winner of my giveaway!
Little one assisted with much enthusiasm..

and the winner is..

Congratulations Miss Mandy from A Little Space Like Home! 
Please email me your address at samantha.hardt@bigpond.com so I can send out your prize right away!


Thank you for all your lovely bloggy birthday wishes, 
and thanks for entering my giveaway!

The sun is shining, and although we don't have any set plans for the weekend, this is how it's looking so far:

 I'm off to look for a new (pre-loved) sewing machine this afternoon 
 Family Wii night tonight (suggested by my son)
If the weather is kind, a little country drive tomorrow
A little baking 
A roast dinner
A little crochet
Loads of washing (but lets not think about that)
Plenty of snuggles, hot choccy & lazing around in pj's (hopefully)


What's your weekend looking like?

xSam

My Week & Last Chance To Enter Giveaway

It's been a busy week, I don't know where the time has flown, but I'm really looking forward to the weekend, and hoping the sun will keep shining..here's a few things I'm loving this week!

Coffee and shopping with Nanna, although she lives just less than an hour away, we don't see each other as often as we'd like, so it makes our time together even more special..

*This photo of my daughter and her Nanna has been removed for internet security purposes.

 Simple, healthy breakfasts, porridge with apple & cinnamon..

Bringing home goodies from the library, it's such a great way to fill in the morning with the little one..

Oh, and after months of persisting with growing little one's hair (including growing the fringe out), we'd had enough, so it was off to the hairdressers for a chop.  Although I did adore her lovely long locks..it's so much easier to manage now..

And lastly, getting some washing done, after the rainy week we had last week!

But before you leave me don't forget to enter my little birthday giveaway, there's still time, it'll be  drawn tomorrow! (sorry, only applicable to Australian entrants).

So, how's your week been?

Joining in with Things I'm Loving and Grateful today.

xSam
*This post has been edited to remove photos of my children, for internet security purposes.

A Giveaway For My Birthday

Because you read my blog, because you have left lovely comments and words of support, because you are here reading my blog today, and because my blog has just turned one, I'm grateful.

So, what would really make me smile on this special occassion would be to wrap up a few of my favourite things, tie them up with string and send them to a lucky blogger, yes, I'm having a little giveaway, my very first giveaway!

How quickly this year has flown, I feel as though my blog is evolving with me, who knows where it will all lead to, all I know is I'm looking forward to many more posts, getting to know you a little better, and sharing this amazing journey with many more bloggers too.

If you would like to be in the running, just drop me a line below and if you're not already a follower and you would like to be, then why not join me?

A name will be drawn at random, the old fashioned way, this time next week, so best of luck!

Joining in with grateful today!

xSam