at my house .....numbers & fever

So much going on at my house at the moment, that this post is a little late!  After a quick trip to the country on the weekend, my daughter got sick whilst we were away (again!) so have been reminded just how little she is, as my normally independent and courageous girl was bundled up on my lap or perched on my hip for the past two days, not wanting to leave my side as her temperature soared!  Turns out she has a throat infection and the antibiotics are doing the trick!

I tried to keep on top of things, but it just wasn't meant to be as I left a tissue in the wash (don't you hate that!) and as I tried to sneak some craft in last night, my stitch ripper fell off the table and landed in the paper feed of the printer on the floor!  Nice!

I am so thrilled that today is the last day of winter and I sense normality returning - my feisty daughter returns, demanding to start toilet training, and my son is constantly amazing me with his appetite for numbers (counting by 11's and addition are high on his priority at the moment!) - and whilst I'm not one to brag, my sister-in-law filmed him doing some numbers on the weekend and posted it on her school blog which you can check it out here.

to see what others are up to at their house stop past Lou's...

custom order!

Yes, my first one - so I'm quite excited and it's not even a regular item I make - it's a new design with a craft I'm just getting used to...

It's a crochet baby block....

My dear friend Ree will be a grandmother any day now with her daughter expecting a baby boy.  Ree picked these colours for her future grandson and I was thrilled to be asked to make something for her.

There are two little bells inside so it makes a nice little jingle when rolled around....

I'm happy with how it's turned out and hope this little handmade gift is enjoyed!

my creative space...

I turned tourist guide today as our relatives from overseas headed from Country Victoria to Melbourne this morning and my husband, kids and I had the pleasure of showing them some sights....

First stop was Queen Victoria Market - for a much needed caffeine fix and some souvenirs to take back home.....

A very quick pit stop at Port Melbourne....

And onto the Melbourne Aquarium.  My Italian has improved somewhat as I am throwing caution to the wind and having a go....

Rest assured I have a large pile of fabric waiting for me - all of this 14.5 metres for one project!  But can you guess??


for more creative types head over here....

wardrobe wednesday...

Now that I am officially over winter, I start to wear spring/summer clothes and winterize them up (is that even a word? oh well!) In an attempt to fool myself that it simply still can't be this cold still!  Melbourne is ramping up the chilly icy mornings and the past few days the wind feels like it's coming straight from the arctic!

Windy days....hmmm not a good day to wear a skirt - especially a light cotton circle cut skirt (which means that the pattern is basically cut in a full circle with an added waist band section giving you a floaty full skirt with the potential to for it to do a Marilyn Munroe on you!

Yes, well this happened several times with this skirt, but luckily I was clad with leggings and some killer new boots that a bit of breeze didn't bother me in the slightest!  I must remember to wear nice knickers under this skirt in the summer time  ;-P

Top; cheapy from Cotton On
Cardi - Portmans
Skirt - Events
Leggings - Target
Boots - Tony Bianco

at my house .....

Taking it easy today at my house.....

A while back we were rearranging some furniture in the house, and this little side table wasn't really required anymore, when I got an idea to shorten the legs (plans to paint it white in the future!) and now it makes for a perfect desk area for the kids....

I've been so pre-occupied making things for markets and my shop lately, that I really wanted to make my kids something so I thought of a useful item - so I make these crayon apron rolls and filled it with chunky crayons and surprised them  - they don't really want to wear them around their waist, but they love taking the crayons out and it makes for a fun pack up!

I think the new desk area and the crayon aprons are a hit!

What's going on a your house?  To join in visit Lou ....

post vote

Once the aftermath of voting for who will govern this country for the next three years....

Enjoy your Sunday relaxing here....

And come and say hi....

Enjoy your weekend xx

my creative space...

When inspiration strikes, I am compelled to stop in my tracks, listen whole-heartedly to the voice in my head to execute those creative thoughts into reality....


This week was filled with accomplishments....

A wall adorned with some attention....

bus roll print from linea swedish design

Plate from Ebay

Laugh sign from Spotlight and I spray painted it yellow

Frames from spotlight - one has a holiday snap of some familiar icon/other has some scrapbooking paper

A thrifted doily given a new lease of life....

some cute brooches and hair clips to come with me to Sunday's North Melbourne Market....

And did you notice my new Blog header, with those funny little black boxes ruining the moment??  Well, what I thought would be a few clicks of my computer turned into a few frustrated hours spent in front of said screen last night trying to get this.....

My Mac Book is very lucky that it is still in one peice - my patience with computers is not great.  If anyone has any skill in this area and can simplify how to upload (what I thought was quite a simple collections of snaps) into a blog header, it would be much appreciated by the technically challenged moi! 

For more creative types head here....

wardrobe wednesday...

I'm noticing a change...

Can you?

Spring is nearly here and to be honest I can't wait.  If I had of started these Wardrobe posts at the start of winter my demeanor would have been somewhat different, seeing as I have a love affair with winter coats, boots over jeans and scarves in every colour and thickness.

But I'm over it!  I can't wait for fresh mornings where I can throw open the doors and windows, and sun that penetrates your face and cardigans you can slip off by lunch to catch some vitamin D on my bare arms....

Oh hurry up Spring...I miss you!

So in an attempt to convince myself Spring is here...a splash of colour, some little ballet flats and vintage scarf!

Jeans - Sass and Bide
White singlet - Cotton On
Orange top - Saba
Jacket - Armani Jeans
Shoes - gift from my mum and Nonna on their recent trip to Italy!
Scarf - op shop

a mia casa {at my house}

Remember a few months ago I shared with you all that I was trying to improve my italian prior to relatives visiting from Italy??  Well they arrive on Wednesday and I am ashamed to say that my italian stinks....and not in a great smelly feet fresh parmesan cheese kind of way!

We have been skyping them regularly, and last night I even had my little translation book in my hand and flashed it before the web-cam so there was no denying my limited abilities....

I am really looking forward to meeting our newly found relatives....I have been practicing, but not as much as I should and last night was a crack up when I was so proud that I had come up with some really good things to say I demonstrated my skills to hubby....

"Andare per una camminare?"


 My husband proudly informed me, that I had just demanded they go for a walk!!

Oh dear....this will be interesting!!  I hope to get away with lots of hand movement, photo pointing, eating lots of pasta and drinking vino! Wish me luck!!!

Che cosa sta accendendo alla vosta casa??  Join Lou here....

Photos; Us at the Vatican, Rome; Colosseum, Rome; Bridge of Sigh's - Venice; Ponte Vecchio - Florence - During our 2005 Europe trip (oh those were the days....)

Wardrobe wednesday...

On a friday I know!  But my little girls birthday took precedent this week...

I'm enjoying doing a wardrobe post on my blog, it makes me think about what clothes I have and how to rework them. 

.

 I love getting inspiration from magazines, and other blogs like Ish and Chi.   Take this skirt, which I bought pre-children and I barely wore it as it was a weird length (think nanna style mid calf) - what was a thinking???    Anyway...so many times I would drag it from the bottom draw, sometimes thinking it could go into the donations bag, and then at the last minute I would think 'no, i might wear it one more time...'

...well five years on and I think me and this skirt will become better acquainted as I pulled it out of the bottom draw (again) tried my best to make it look acceptable - I only zipped it up half way, tucked in the waist band and hitched up to my waist and belted it up!  It's a much better length now I think...

Other good news is that I finally made an online purchase which arrived the other day - I bought some bright tops for summer and some pewter flats (they were on sale!)  - all fit perfectly...

from Dorothy Perkins

wearing;

Top - Dotti

Skirt - Katies

Belt - Blue Illusion

Boots - Sandler

Necklace - Diva

my creative space...

It's been a whirlwind of buntings, cake making, present wrapping, and the sorts... It's amazing what inspiration you can find on the web to help create a handmade party atmosphere....

Today was my little daughters 2nd Birthday Party with a few of her friends...
And once the invitations were sent, a carnival theme emerged...

I got an idea for decorating the cake from Cathy (who is also going through a bit of a bunting obsession!!)

I did a bit of research on Carnival Themes and Martha Stewart's Blog had some great idea's like this popcorn stand - which is just paper cones (or you could use party hats) filled with popcorn and placed in holes a cardboard box.

Little people came and had a wonderful time - here is some fruit filled cups on my cup-cake stand!

And delightful gifts were received.  My friend has just begun crafting and made this gorgeous hair clip organiser which will be very useful.

And a cute miniture tea-set with it's own basket from my lovely friend here 

I also wanted to show the gift received from my Aunty.   She made this for my son when it was his Birthday - My daughter received a cross stitch equally stunning!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes

For more creative types - head here

{birthday celebration}

two years ago

we met

and fell in love

you are so precious and

dear to us

you bring light to our life 

and laughter to our world

I have the best job as your mummy

Happy 2nd Birthday sweet daughter! 

Birthday girl receiving her gifts - a few books and some lovely handmade lovelies (and yes she is wearing Lightening McQueen pj's - just like her big brother!) 

A gorgeous Madamoiselle doll from Steph at Mon Petit Poppet was given a warm hug and kissed and given special privilege in her cot during nap time. 

And getting stuck into her fold away fabric carry house - which was brought along with us to playgroup this morning. 

A cake has been baked and decorated

A bunting or two made

some games prepared

and balloons to blow up

A little party will be had to celebrate this milestone tomorrow...

xx