Our Christmas at home...

Homemade decorations made by the kids and my old collection of Snoopys hanging in the tree

and surprise,surprise I got to open the big box under the tree...

a record player!

Now I can kick back and listen to my old vinyl collection

it comes with a usb cable so records can be backed-up to my pc

My kids listen to music on their iPods.  It's a shame they miss out on looking at album covers and admiring the artwork and reading the song lyrics.  They are fascinated seeing 'a giant CD' and I've shown them how to  put the record onto the turntable and carefully put the stylus (needle) onto the record.  

We are all pretty happy with what Santa brought us, the kids declared this "our best Christmas ever".

I'm so glad I kept all my old records, loving listening to them again.

tiny tree deliveries...

Post letter to Santa...

There's been some letter writing to Santa in our house today.  With a rather long list....mmm.

I quite like this stocking hanging in the window of  Ryan Town.

This stocking hanging in the window is not available for purchase but you can buy this tea towel and turn it into a stocking:

Santa's reindeer are getting ready...

Do you know all the names of Santa's reindeer?

10 more sleeps to go...

Christmas in the city...

If you get the chance now is a great time to visit Melbourne city and soak up the atmosphere

looking in the giant Christmas Tree at Federation Square

Swanston Street 

Christmas manicure...

These are not my fingernails  (it's not really the look for me) but my daughter and her friends would love these.

a surprise under the tree..

I feel like an excited little kid again.  I just found a present under the tree...and it's for me!  In the past my partner has not been the best shopper and I know this probably sounds really slack, but I have usually ended up choosing my present and then he and the kids have wrapped it up.  I don't really like surprises so now I am very curious as to what it is.  I remember when I was little sneaking a peak through the wrapping paper, carefully removing a little bit of sticky tape to see what was inside.  I have to admit the thought just crossed my mind to do it again, but that would be very naughty.  I guess I will just have to wait patiently.  It is not going to be easy!

custom orders for Christmas..

I'm really enjoying making custom orders for Christmas, it's good to be very busy for a change even though I'm feeling quite tired on some days.  Once an order is finished it's a good feeling.

Another birdy wreath - this one in reds with a touch of green - 'tis the season.

An Advent calender I made..

some hand stitching and raw edge applique

Forest in the city...

Federation Square in Melbourne city is filled with a moveable forest of pine trees.  

There are lots of events happening at Fed Square and the kids had heaps of fun last year just running around the pines playing hide and seek.

Advent ideas..

Have you started counting down to Christmas?  Kate from www.kaetoo.blogspot.com has featured some Advent calender ideas on her blog including one from Gozi & Pop.  Thanks Kate!

Am I Santa?

As my kids are getting older they are not so sure if Santa is real.  Maybe it's Mum and Dad who deliver the presents??

They have asked me if Santa is real and my answer has always been the same.  "I believe in Santa".

I read on someone's blog a couple of years ago (cannot remember where now) how they would answer that question to their children and I liked their explanation so I wrote it in my notebook.

The answer is no.  I am not Santa.  There is no one Santa.
I am the person who fills your Santa sack with presents though.   I also choose and wrap the presents under the tree, the same way my Mum and Dad did for me and the same way their Mum and Dad did for them.
I imagine you will someday do this for your children and you will love seeing their faces light up on Christmas morning.  This won't make you Santa though.  Santa is bigger than any person, and his work has gone on longer than any of us has lived.  What he does is simple, but it is powerful.  He teaches children how to have belief in something they can't see or touch.  It's a big job, and it's an important one.
Throughout your life, you will need this capacity to believe:  in yourself, in your friends, in your talents and in your family.  You'll also need to believe in things you can't measure or even hold in your hand.  Here, I am talking about love, that great power that will light your life from the inside out, even during its darkest, coldest moments.
Santa is a teacher and he has help from all the people whose hearts he's filled with joy.
With full hearts, Mummy and Daddy take turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.

So no, I am not Santa.  Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness and believing.

Yippee...1st of December and time to start counting down!

I love this time of the year.  I love to look at all the beautiful Christmas decorations in the shops, hear the Christmas songs and see the kids starting to get excited.  There's only three more weeks left to go at school which means not much time left for making things.  And I have so many things to make which keeps me very happy.
So to get into the spirit of the season I am going to post a picture everyday to help countdown the days.

1st December - time to put up the Christmas tree.

I love Peanuts.  I still have my Snoopy that Santa left for me one Christmas Eve many moons ago.

Christmas window display

Here are some pictures of things I've made which are now hanging in the shop window of my stockist at Davies & son.

Green and red Christmas Advent bunting with hand stitched numbers to countdown the days to Christmas.  A red Owl doorstop.

Advent Calender hanging on the wall, and a string of red & white Advent Bunting hanging on the left.
At bottom: framed word art  "let your little light shine"

New word art  "you make the sun shine brighter than doris day" in floral fabrics.  Lyrics taken from the song "wake me up before you go go" by Wham!

A Christmas birdy wreath

Pretty pink birdy wreath

All above available here

and lucky last this Advent calender is available here.

Christmas Advent Calender - by GoziandPop on madeit

I've been very productive these last couple of weeks. Will post some pictures in the next few days of some of the things I've been making.

My online shop has been sadly neglected for quite awhile, so I'm working hard to get some nice things listed for sale.  Here's one so far....

Christmas Advent Calender - by GoziandPop on madeit

a Berenstain moment...

Have you ever read the Berenstain Bears in the Dr Suess beginner book series?  I read them when I was little and now my kids love them too.

 Papa Bear is always telling his son how to do things and keep out of danger, but always ends up hurting himself along the way.

I had a 'Papa Bear' moment today.  I'm always telling my kids "watch what you're doing", "pay attention" and "look where you are going".  All the time like a stuck record.  And then....

I sewed through my finger!!

And ouch, it really hurt!!

I was sewing, and looking at my magazine, and looking at my phone and them BAM!

One sore finger and a broken sewing needle.

Always practice what you preach!

Love Me Do

50 years ago this modest little song with it's unmistakable harmonica hook was released by a little-known band from Liverpool.

Who would have imagined way back then how successful The Beatles would become?  My Dad is a huge Beatles fan and I grew up listening to all of their music.  We had The Beatles box set collection of vinyl records and I loved nothing more than playing records on our big Panasonic Technics record player with surround sound.  I don't think I'll ever tire of their music. Do you like The Beatles?  Do you have a favourite song?  If you like you can listen here to Love Me Do.

fresh new fabrics to brighten the day..

These fabrics just sing out to me "it's a beautiful sunny day, the flowers are out and the birds are singing".

A perfect day where you just feel good to be alive.

I want to make some cheery bunting, birdy wreaths, little cushions, just to enjoy all these pretty colours.

Procrastinating...

There's been a lot of fluffing about and procrastinating at Gozi & Pop headquarters this week.

I should be well underway making Christmas Advent Calenders by now.  Don't be alarmed about the mention of Christmas, but the reality is all stock goes into stores in October.  And last year I told myself I would start making my calenders in July!  But I just can't get into the rhythm of it.  I will get out all the fabrics, cut out some squares and then go and do something else.  Then come back and pack it all away.

But today I saw this fabulous panel at my local quilting shop and it's given me some good ideas.

Stay tuned!

Apart from all my fluffing about I did make some pretty pink and purple bunting for a custom order.  

Over 3 metres worth - lots of different patterns & prints.

Now to start those Advent Calenders!

new cushions for Spring..

I have just finished making this cute little cushion.  It's a custom order for a christening.  It was left up to me to pick the fabrics so I decided to go for a sweet and playful design with a bit of nature rather than too pink and girly.

and on the reverse

I think I spent more time choosing the fabrics than it took to sew up.

This is a cushion partly made by my son.  Using a special marker (it disappears when you spray water on it) my son drew a picture onto a piece of fabric.  Then using different coloured threads, I hand stitched over his 'rocket blast off' drawing.  It's a fun thing to do and a nice keepsake.  It could also be put in a frame, but we decided to make it into a cushion.

and this was an unfinished piece that had been lying around for far too long.  It too has been turned into a cushion.

I stitched these letters so long ago, I can't remember what the stitch is called or how to do it!

a bit of spring cleaning..

So happy Spring is finally here.  I love opening up all the windows and having a good clean out.
On the spur of the  moment I loaded up the car on Saturday afternoon with the kid's old skateboards, 2 big bags of unworn and outgrown clothes, books, magazines, shoes & bags and whatever else we were no longer using.  Then Sunday morning went to the local secondhand market and set up a stall.

I'd hardly unloaded the car when two teenage girls came past and bought the skateboards.  They were really happy and skated off with them.  I think our little dog  wanted to keep the orange one though.

It was a good morning.  I made a bit of pocket money, got to have a coffee & read a magazine in peace without the kids and some shoppers bought some bargains.

In my spring cleaning mode I finally sorted out some of my fabrics.

before (what a mess)

after (nicely colour co-ordinated now).