The end of an era

I’ve decided to end our blog – it’s been great for the last seven years as a record of what we’ve been doing but I’m happy to end it here.

All things have a beginning and an end. The blog has been great and I’m sure it will be missed.

You can follow me on the Emma Makes Facebook page.

Or see our photos on Flickr.

Or you can email me – my address is in the side-bar.

Thanks for reading all this time; it’s been great but now it’s time for a change.

$100 Emma Makes store credit up for grabs

In the lead up to Christmas everyone needs a hand, which is why I have $100 store credit up for grabs in my online store.

t’s easy,

1. Snap a photo of you and your Emma Makes product(s)
2. Upload your photo to the Emma Makes Facebook page or to Instagram*, and
3. Tag a friend who needs Emma Makes in their life.

You could each win $50 store credit and you can enter as many times as you like.

Competition closes 5 December. Competition is open worldwide.

*On Instagram use the hashtag #emmamakesselfie to be found.

Weekend list: 15 + 16 November

• Wrap up the rest of Tom’s birthday presents
• Go swimming at Masterton
• Do a few orders for stockists
• Start writing my Christmas cards (yes, really)
• Sewing, pinning, repeat
• Nice lunch somewhere with Tom
• Going on The Friends of The Dowse Architecture tour on Sunday

My native birds cards can be bought online at www.emmamakes.com and make an alternative to snow-covered Santas.

Weekend list: 8 + 9 November

• Going to Featherston’s Pecha Kucha night on Friday
• Vacuuming – woohoo lets hear it for vacuuming
• Filling Emma Makes orders
• Working out a new Emma Makes bag pattern
• Pinning, sewing – repeat
• Napping
• Reading Novel about my wife by Emily Perkins – so great!
• Add to my Christmas card list

Checking in, checking out

I had to admit to myself recently that I like being in special groups – but only the good kind. I like getting the ‘exceeding expectations’ letter at work or having Bailies in my morning coffee at the airport or staying in a nice place in Melbourne where nothing is a problem and they have flowers everywhere.

It’s good to know you’re fortunate. And to remember that trudging to work is what gets you nice things.

Tom and I recently went on a short break to Melbourne. It was very low key – we ate some nice places, rode around on trams, looked at shops and walked and walked some more at a very dawdly touristy pace. But what I liked most was just spending time together, napping on a bed that got made every morning and reading books.

I left my phone at home so took no photos, answered no emails and felt no obligation to be especially looking or paying attention to things.

I liked checking out for a bit. And while I was checked out I read The Year of the Hare – an entire book about checking out that was slow and beautiful and simple. I highly recommend it. And then after that read The Lighthouse by Alison Moore.