Meet Kayla, and some more eye candy!

It is my very great pleasure to introduce you to the newest member of the SUDs family…. 

Meet Kayla!  :-)  Isn’t she gosh-darn cute?!!  She is a Maltese Shitzu cross Jack Russell Terrier and is simply adorable!

Mr SUDs and I have been chatting about extending our family to include a fur-kid for quite some time… and boy have I been broody!  So, I had “half an hour to kill” a couple of days ago (will share with you the reason why in just a tic..) and decided to take my my two kids to the pet shop, you know, just to see some cute animals.  (Oh okay you got me!  Actually it WAS to check out if they had a new family member for us!!!  But that’s just between me and you, right?! <wink>)

Well!  The girl in the pet shop was a born match-maker and when she handed me this gorgeous little timid little puppy, me and my two kids fell in love instantly!  I was able to put our pup “on hold” for a few hours, but gosh it was hard leaving that shop without her!

Now I’ll explain why I had half an hour to kill! My DH’s car was written off a couple of days ago due to hail damage. Melbourne had the most incredulous hail storm a few weeks ago, on the day after my wedding actually, and boy was I glad I got married the day before!  My English family were staying and I’m sure they thought that this kind of thing happens in Australia all the time – but honestly - it was a first!  Check out the size of the hail stones…

They were the size of golf balls!  The storm caused a lot of damage and it has taken weeks for the insurance companies to process all the claims which is why we have only just had the car written off.  It was too dented to repair. 

Back to the story of Kayla!  We are down to one car and needed to pick Mr SUDs up from work… we had visited the pet shop and spent the 10 minutes’ drive to ‘work’ hoping that Mr SUDs would agree that we just HAD to have a furry companion in the IMMEDIATE future!  I honestly thought his response would be, “But Vikki, we need to buy a new car and this just isn’t the right time…”. 

But he didn’t… he said, “So, is the pet shop still open?”!!!!  :-) He did joke about it after though and exclaimed, “Lose a car and gain a puppy… ah well, I’ll just have to put a saddle on her and ride her to work!”  LOL…

If Kayla’s cuteness wasn’t quite enough, I have some more eye-candy for you!

This beautiful felted wrap and the embellishment on the handbag was made for me by my dear friend Narelle (no blog).  Aren’t they sublime?  I will treasure both, along with their creator, forever! :-)  If you live in Melbourne and would like to see these items in person, they will be on display at an exhibition in the not-too-distant future – I’ll keep you posted!

Until next time – extending friendship your way…  :-)  I’m off to cuddle my pup! :-)

Hugs! Vikki x

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Handmade wedding gifts and published in Handmade!

Now that my life has settled back in to some kind of normality again, (is there such a thing?!!), I have vowed to become more active with my blog – and with my sewing!! And you know what?

I can’t wait!!!

I’ve got so much news to share, but plan to do so gradually over the next few days otherwise this post will be so long I fear you may fall asleep in your cup of tea or coffee!

First of all though, I would like to thank you so very much for the kind, thoughtful and loving words so many of you have left me after the last post I wrote about my wedding.  I savoured each and every one of those messages and if I haven’t yet responded to you personally, forgive me, I still intend on doing so! :-)

In the world of all things “craft”, I’m very excited to be able to share that I have had one of my projects published in the current issue of Handmade magazine.

Just in time for Mothers Day…

If you live overseas and are unable to purchase Handmade, this design and pattern is available for sale in my etsy store, here.  :-)

I have another project due for publication this month, in Australian Homespun magazine.  I’m really looking forward to seeing that project in print as it is very close to my heart!  Hmmm… any guesses as to what it might be?

On to other muses, and the memories of my wedding are still so vibrantly fresh in my mind that I’d like to show you something real special… a ring pillow designed and made especially for me by my dear & darling friend, Jenny.

Isn’t it absolutely gorgeous?  The pillow itself is made from silk, the ribbon is vintage silk, and there are little pink Swarkovski crystals in each corner. Sublime!  :-)

Here is a special hand-painted trinket, gifted to me by the very thoughtful Anna, of Anna Rosa Designs  

And a keepsake memory book made by two close friends, Narelle and Sarah (no blogs).  When we went out for my hen night, each lady present wrote a little message for me in the pages of this consortina-style book… (and it coordinates with my wedding invitations!)  The first pic shows the lid of the shallow cardboard box it was presented in.

I received a stunningly beautiful gift from my dear and talented friend Narelle… but I will share that with you one day very soon!

In the meantime… here is something for you…

I will be back soon!  My first year blog-aversary fell on the same day as my Wedding!  How special is that?  I’m thinking-up a giveaway prize so stay tuned!! :-)

Stop Press!!!  Two more things before I go! 

First of all I’d like to say how very proud I am of my dear friend and fellow gum-tree-designer, Dawn, who has been raising money for the poor people of Baseco in the Phillipines, through the sales of her bag pattern pictured below. 

If you would like to support this cause, please click here, or on the link on my sidebar.  Not only is the tote bag beautiful, but it is so very reasonably-priced!

And secondly (geesh, do I ever stop talking?!!!) I’d just like to give you the heads-up that the gorgeous Fiona from Mothers Cupboard will be sharing her free delectable design with you tomorrow on Among the Gum Trees.

Until next time – warm and happy wishes!  Vikki x

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My wedding day… a photo frenzy!

The bride-to-be with her two darling children.  Rosie the flower-girl and Aaron the ring-bearer.  :-)

 

Mr SUDs and I have some wonderful friends.  Paul and Jo are no exception… not only did they take these wonderful photos to capture our most special day, but Paul provided “the” wedding car and escorted me and my cherubs to the Gardens.

Rosie was the most wonderful little princess! She is a natural leader, as demonstrated above!  She led the way for me, my much-loved brother; and of course, her very own gorgeous big brother.

Gosh it’s been good having my family over to visit!  And how wonderful that my big brother could give me away.  I have two other older brothers and many nieces and nephews, but unfortunately they live the other side of the world and could not make the wedding… but they were with me in my heart. xx

Mr SUDs waits patiently with his best man and life-long friend.

Aaron and Rosie walk down the ‘aisle’ before me.

I started crying with happiness before I’d even made it to the leafy alter!

A beautiful ceremony… it couldn’t have been more perfect!  All around us the weather was windy and raining… but it felt as if we were in a bubble, for in these gardens we were blessed with sunshine.  Above, Aaron offers us our wedding rings…

 

May I now introduce you to…

Mr and Mrs Collumbine…

 

 

 

And now to enjoy the next chapter…

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Published for the first time, and wedding rehearsal!

Gosh, it’s been an exciting week!  First off, I received a copy of the current Creating Country Threads magazine and was delighted to see my first published project!

The guitar-shaped wall hanging is a plectrum holder.  I designed it for both my brother and Mr SUDs as they are both guitarists, and it is always so hard to think of things to make for men.  So this idea was borne.  The plectrums are placed in little plastic pockets sat behind the metallic-threaded guitar strings.  The project is personalised with the name of the recipient, hence its title, “Scott Rocks!”

The plectrum holder above is the one I made for my brother, Den.  He is a Simpsons fan, hence the licensed plectrums!! Do you like it??

Here it is on the front cover together with fellow friend and gumnut, Jenny’s, sweet bag.  Jenny is also profiled in this issue, it’s a lovely read!!  Do you recognise her Shabby Roses quilt, pictured?

 

And Jenny’s daughter, young Blossom, also has a project published!

Also, former member of Among the Gum Trees, Paula Storm, has a very sweet project within the pages of this issue.  :-)

WEDDING UPDATE!

I had a "Hen’s night” get-together with some girlfriends last night and it was lovely – and very tame! LOL… A couple of weeks ago three girlfriends took me out for a day in the City and embarrassed me suitably by making me wear a funny T- shirt all day, which was then updated to a 1970’s outfit!  I got some very strange looks I can tell you!  But I’m a 70’s girl at heart so behind the blushing I was “lovin’ it!”

Today my family and I went up to Cloudehill Gardens to meet our celebrant for the wedding rehearsal.  It’s been a glorious day, with full sun and temperatures of 34c degrees. 

Our friends, Paul & Jo (no blog!), are talented photographers and have very kindly offered to take our wedding photos. So they too joined us as we all enjoyed taking in the sights of the beautiful surroundings, with a view to finding key spots for photo opportunities.  There are so many that the only problem will be limiting the options so that we have time enough to make it back to our own Reception! LOL…

Above: If the weather stays good our ceremony will be held right down on the right hand side… just past that wall…

Isn’t it gorgeous?

On the subject of wedding preparations, all is going well.  Tonight I shall be playing around with these:

Until next time – enjoy the views!

Hugs all round!  Vikki x

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Gum Tree teasing…

I think us girls from Among the Gum Trees have become renowned for our teasing!  We just can’t help ourselves – do you forgive us?!! :-)

We have been working on a very special project that we are all very proud of.  Being the cheeky gumnuts that we are, we can’t reveal all just yet, but here is a sneak peek to whet your appetite…

You can find more sneak peeks from Cheryl here; from Joy here; from Jenny here; from Vicki here; and from Judith, here!

Wishing you all a day filled with love and laughter!

Until next time – Hugs! Vikki x

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