AmiraInOz

Hi everyone, I must confess- I am a selfish parent. The combination seems impossible but honesty helps me to come to terms with how I'm feeling and doing something about it. We have just finished 2 weeks of Vacswim. For those not familiar with it, it's a summer swimming program endorsed by the Australian government to try to get as many children to learn how to swim (we are after all a BIG island). Every year I enrol my kids and every year I moan and groan about it pledging never to do it again only to register for it when registration time comes because I know it's good for my kids. Every year, I try different locations in the hope that it's the venue that kills me and not the hours of waiting while my kids have the best time of their lives. This year the venue of choice was the beach (previously it has been pools) which is about 25 minutes away from home and with my luck (not luck at all, but a test from God), I got 8am & 8:45 am swimming lessons. To

Happy Australia Day!! This year Australia Day falls on Monday the 26th of January! For those of you who are unfamiliar with it's history, briefly, Australia Day commemorates the landing of the British First Fleet in Sydney Cove back in 1788. This mission was to establish an agricultural work camp, to segregate British convicts from the general population. Australia was officially christened "Australia" in 1824 and before that it was referred to as "New Holland". I did a quick search around and there really aren't any Australia Day cards being designed :( So I thought I'd come up with a few to start a trend!! Check out my Australia Day post as a guest designer at:   Aunty Vera's Scrap & Craft   Here are a few more cards that didn't make that post: Card 1: Australia For this card, I tried to simulate the red earth of the Aussie desert as well as the long distance between us and anyone else. I used paper from the Kais

Hi everyone, I make a lot of things and for the longest time, I didn't know what to do with what I had created until last year. I came across this GREAT swap community which I joined and have gotten to know so many nice people both regional and international. I have swapped and received and have loved every minute of it. Here are 2 of this month's swaps (both of which I am hosting): Swap 1: No-sew home made quilt cards The first 2 cards use strips of paper going horizontally. I also used 2 different embossing folders on the same paper to give 2 totally different looks.  Card 1: Paper from Best of Crate Paper Edition embossed with (Nellie Snellen) Swirls 1 Embossing Folder.  Card 2: Same paper embossed using the Damask Embossing folder by PortaCraft.   The next 3 are a quilted style that I totally love and adore. Card 3: Left over 1" pattern paper scraps arranged in a somewhat organised chaos formation using the Henna Embossing folder by

Dear all, Hello and welcome to my blog: HandMade in Oz. My name is Amira. I am 37, mom of 2 boys and a lover of paper crafting. In another world and for 15 years, I used to be a clinic co-ordinator in the medical research industry as well as a passionate advocate for public health in our community (with post-grad to boot). About 3 years ago, I decided to focus on my own mental health. Being a busy mom of 2 very active boys as well as being a supportive daughter to ageing parents, as well as being there for all my friends and extended family meant I could not do it all (contrary to popular feminist views) perfectly and still have time for myself. So I decided to join the ranks of stay-at home moms to raise my children and be a member of my community. In doing so, I discovered a love for art, craft and all things hand made. After joining, many community and on-line classes, I've discovered my confidence and style. In doing so, I've started making things that both fami