Remembering the year that was - 2014

 Hello 2015!  A new year, a fresh new start!

That was how I was planning the year to go, but the powers that be had something else in mind. We started the year of with a major phone line fault in our area and were without phones and Internet for the first 5 days of the year.
Everything I had planned for my blog had to sit and wait, so now its time to play catchup and get back on track for my year of organised simplicity!

First up is a bit of a look back at 2014 and all the exciting things (and some not so) that happened to our family.
January started with Jayden getting his learners licence and Daniel an All Trades interview for an apprenticeship. We celebrated Australia Day with our usual BBQ and pool party.
February saw Daniel complete and pass his Sports Medicine Australia level 2 accreditation.
March had us helping Josh and Ashleigh along with Rhys and Jamie move into their first rental home and the footy season started!

 April was a huge month, Sandra came up to visit for a few days to attend Joshua's 21st birthday celebrations, then we had Ashleigh's 21st celebrations a week later.
The footy club celebrated 35 years with a commemorative jersey and game and then a glitzy function that night where 35 players from over the years were given hall of fame status.
Towards the end of May Sally, Brendan and the kids arrived in Qld for a visit, the kids all had a ball catching up with their cousins.
June we celebrated two more 21sts, Richie and Rhys both had BBQ's to celebrate. John was asked to be trainer for the Sth Qld rep side and sadly we fare welled the lovely Caroline.

 

July was a little exciting, well for me at least with my first trip to Sydney where we were honoured to be part or Matt and Becks beautiful wedding.

Jay had a trip to hospital for fasting tests, report back is all is going well, and Daniel got himself a new (to him) car.

August brought more visitors, this time Carol and Kevin from Tassie, was great to see some more of the family we left behind!

Josh and Ash announced their engagement!! He proposed on the beach with a beautiful ring, such a romantic at heart!

September saw Jay start his QCS exams, almost graduation time! 

Footy season ended with Grand Final wins for both our reserves and senior sides, celebrations went long into the night.

Want more excitement ? Well we also learnt that  in April next year we will be Grandparents!!! Josh and Ash are expecting a little baby boy!!!

 

 October the lovely Julianna came down from Townsville to visit with Dale and Skye. We helped Vicki and Jim move house and celebrated with a housewarming BBQ.
It was also Engagement Party time, a great night with family and friends.

 It was about now I was hoping for some chill time to get ready for Christmas, it didn't happen.
November was action packed with both John and Dan working at the Pan Pacific Masters Games, Dan just for a weekend, John worked 9 days. Sandra was also on the Gold Coast competing in the Netball so I spent some time hanging out and cheering her on.

 

 

The last two weeks of November had us getting ready for Jayden's yr 12 Formal at which both he and Kirstin looked Amazing! He had a job interview with a community radio station as their web developer, received 2 top awards at the schools Academic Awards night and then the most emotional day for me Graduation. The last of my boys to finish school!

 Is it anyone wonder that by the time December arrived I was so ready for a brand new year and a rest haha.
Jay started work at the radio station, we headed of to the Gold coast for our annual Christmas photo shoot, one less human  this year but we added 2 mischievous puppies!
Christmas arrived and was a pretty chilled out day celebrating with family, just the way I like it. Although missing the family back home in Tassie alot.
We celebrated Jays 17th with an Ice Skating expedition, first time in over 10 years for most of us, was pretty fun!
New Years eve once again was celebrated with our traditional pool party here at home. The boys their partners, family and good friends saw us ring in 2015!

As I mention at the start I am hoping for a much more organised and simple 2015 and really looking forward to the arrival of our first grandchild!!
There will be lots of scrapbook, art journal and handmade gift sharing as well as family and sport updates as well.


Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)

A year of drawing

Who needs another creative outlet ? Not that we really have time to add something else to our ever growing list of projects, but why not, its fun right ?
Earlier in the year I came across Illustration Friday, a website all about drawing and ilustrating. So much to look at you could easily get lost there for hours.

When I saw that they did a weekly drawing prompt I thought why not, I cant draw but what a fun way to try and learn. So I got myself  a(nother) visual diary stocked up on coloured pencils and replenished my watercolours and was ready to start.

Some of the prompts were a little tricky and some were quite simple. I struggled some weeks to get something down on paper and many times nearly ripped it all up and gave up not happy with how my drawings were turning out. I didnt though, with a little encouragement from friends and my family I kept at it.

What I have ended up with is  a book full of all different drawings, some im proud of, some id rather anyone not see, but what im most proud of is that I kept going and didnt give up.

I plan to keep going through 2014 and fill my book up and even start a new one, its fun! Who wants to join me with a drawing or doodle a week ?

Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)

Year in review 2013 - Handmade

At the start of 2013 I made a resolution to give as many handmade gifts for the year as I could. I love receiving handmade gifts, love the thought that goes into them and the love and care and time someone has spent creating that gift.

Not everyone on my list for gifts can be given handmade, sometimes its not practicle or easy to think of something that they would not only like or need but appreciate as well. Im sure we have all had those times where we spent hours creating something only for it to get a luke warm response from the receiver.

I spent many hours sitting in front iof the tv crocheting, at my desk drawing and painting as well as hours scouring various sites for inspiration (ok so I admit alot more than I really needed to lol).
I created canvases for both my sons girlfriend and a dear friend as well as one for me!

I tackled my first ever baby crochet! I have knitted for babies before but never crochet so I was chuffed with myself for mastering this! I made up blankets and jackets along with bonnets and booties for my great niece. I also made a couple of other blankets that I cant share yet as the bubba isnt due till February ( I dont want to spoil the surprise for mumma to be).

I managed 3 large crochet blankets this year (no more big blankets for awhile now lol) one for Daniel for his 18th, he needed a new one as he upgraded from single to double bed, and both my sons girlfriends got given a db blanket as well.

Both girls amused at the fact they would watch me crochet them and even helped pick out colours and arrange squares and had no idea it was for them hahah.

I once again created for Girls Night In, a great cause that I am happy to be contributing to. This year I painted a large canvas as well as crocheting some smaller lucky door items.

My last lot of creating for the year was some zentangle monograms for some lovely ladies for christmas, I love zentangle they are so much fun to do and (in my opinion) make a great gift!

I plan to continue my handmade gift giving into 2014. Im currently working on a creative diary of sorts to help me organise who im creating for and what I will make for them. Will share this when I get it sorted.

Do you handmake gifts? Please leave me links if you do, would love to come see what you create.
Have you a simple way that you keep track of all your craft projects ? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)