girl

Soft toys, imaginary play.  You're the mummy, taking care of your babies, you cuddle them and comfort them, already that maternal instinct so acute.  Eager to understand the world, each day littered with questions, some easy, some not.

Dress ups, multiple times a day.  Does this match?  you ask.  So determined, yet easily unsure you scamper close by my side, reassurance is your savour.

Pig-tails, accessories, pretty things.. Chatterbox, craft apprentice and kitchen helper...devouring fruit and baby spinach on a daily basis and the request for special sushi your treat.  Baby cino at any cafe extra points if accompanied by a marshmallow.

Cuddles, kisses and loving me a billion plus infinity.

I thank Him every day you chose me to call your mum.

xx

Crochet vest adapted from a cardigan pattern in Issue 1 of Simply Crochet Magazine.   Instead of sleeves I did a simple scallop edge around the arm holes to finish off.  This pattern uses 4 ply yarn...this colour is Gelato by Moda Vera, 1.2m of ribbon purchased at GJ's discount fabric and sealed at ends by hovering over a lighted match to stop it fraying. 

sentimental

 My paternal grandmother, or Omi as she was affectionately known was wonderful at crochet.  I'm sure just by looking at those intricate doilies you will not disagree.  It's been fifteen years since she left this world and as a child and teenager I was mostly oblivious to her many crafting talents.  Now that my own crochet love is blossoming, and the timely inheritance of some of her wonderful creations are now in my possession I felt a certain sentimentality in joining our crochet journey together.

So with little planning, as usual, and one quiet night spent at the machine, this little crochet hook pouch was made.  My Omi's crochet doily remains intact on the front, joined with a snip of linen and some screen printed fabric from the stash, little pockets for each hook I own...a velvet ribbon secures it all together.

I wonder how my Omi stored her hooks?
How do you store yours?

Joining in here. 

autumn calling

Signs of Autumn are fast approaching.  The chilly morning breeze, the shorter days.  Leaves are turning amber and slippers are hunted for in the back of cupboards and under beds and more cup of tea are enjoyed.  Cooler days call for wintery like craft and what could be more welcome than a new beanie to keep your head warm on a frosty morning.

A beanie for me, hubby the kids and also my nieces (if you're on Instagram you'll have noticed all my crochet beanie posts!).  Crochet is the perfect holiday and portable craft.  It requires just a hook, yarn and scissors popped in bag and can be accomplished whilst passenger on a road trip, or curled up on the couch and even as I so put the test during Easter festivities taking orders from special nieces.  I used patterns for most, and made it up if I needed to, but the result was lovely homemade beanies for all my lovelies.

Do you have any wintery craft projects on the go?
xx


linking up with Kirsty here 

yellow beanie pattern here
similar men/boys beanie pattern here
girls beanie pattern from here (modifed the rainbow beanie by using a verigated yarn instead of using various coloured yarn) 

reflecting

I'm not sad to see the end of February.  It's been a tough month...although looking back at the snaps I took, clearly I like to capture moments that make me happy.  Lucky, coz I sure needed it to bring some cheer when the going gets tough.  Do you believe life throws challenges to test your strength or make you stronger?  Either way, we've been tested and I'd like to hope we are stronger and better for it.   However, this week I am pausing to reflect on some wonderful moments captured too...

1. The brickies have started on the new house.  We're standing on the garage and that brickwork will be  covered in the most beautiful stone I've ever laid my eyes one.  Can. Not. Wait.
2. My bottles finally twinkling and shining after a dust off and a rearrangement of the dresser
3. A self portrait of my daughter, by my daughter and oh so proud to show it off.
4. Taking a dip in the lake
5. A corner of my pantry I like to look at...getting full of lovely little preserves I've been trying over summer.  I have jams, peanut butter, pickled cucumbers and beetroot, pears and figs.  The joys of homemade extending to my pantry is endless.  Next weekend we make passatta...boxes and boxes of tomatoes make into sauce to last the year.
6.  A project started on a whim after receiving the wonderful Simply Crochet from a delightful blogger (who is extremely talented in the hooking department). I've wondered many times if I've bitten off more than I can chew and am preparing myself for utter self-distruction, however, so far so good.
7.  Country Races at it's best.  This is me and my dear sister-in-law enjoying frocking up and having a littler flutter...

I hope your first weekend of March got off to a wonderful start!

Joining in with Em @ The Shack 
xx

goings on...

The week is up, the weekend is here and I've not spent much time here this week...talk about life getting in the way.  In a full on good way though.  You know, when things all just happen all at once however, now the calm has come, I invited some lovely blooms into the house after spending most of the day with my cleaning groove going.  Ah...weekend here I come.  We've got family staying with us,  and I go collect my first organic veg box tomorrow and I've planned a bit of baking, sightseeing around this lovely city and loads of playing with my nieces...

1 & 2 - Images I used as part of my photographic assignments.  Learning about low key images, black and white conversion....
3 & 6 - Beautiful blooms making me smile each time I walk past them
4 - home made peanut butter on homemade wholemeal bread - It really doesn't get any better than this.
5 - little monopoly cars...ready and waiting.

what have you been up to this week? and what do you have planned for the weekend?   Whatever you do, I hope you squeeze in some fun

xx

just in time...

I thought I had been rather organised this year in the lead up to Christmas.  I have decided to give many handmade gifts and use the flexibility of online shopping for those that I want to buy for.   I managed to snap up a Melbourne Zoo for a family pass for friends,   two magazine subscriptions from MagShop (it's the gift that gives all year!!).  I also thought this coffee machine would make a great gift and it was delivered the next day.  My good friend Blurb speedily made and sent me gorgeous personalised diaries with pictures of the kids throughout the year.  It's a good feeling knowing I could avoid the shopping centres this year.

But the one item that I thought I had oodles of time for was the advent calendar.  I realised I had about 48 hours till countdown began!  I did find myself with some time, however it was so hot there was no venturing out to any craft store near or far.  So we used what we had at home searching for inspiration high and low.  My darling daughter loves to paint and draw and the collection when I pick her up from Kinder over the course of the year has resulted in a large draw full just of her artwork.

So with a few careful selections, a cut, snip, glue, print, staple and improvisation we made our own advent calendar.  I bit of jute twine strung up with some picture frame hooks and some quick tassels made with crepe paper and it has a whimsy Christmassy vibe.    A secret activity hidden behind each one, and I am feeling ready for the festivities.

Now is Santa is listening or reading...I did on my travels spot this gorgeous set of Orla Kiely tins from Lark! I do hope I've been good!

Have got your advent calendar ready?

Tuesday delights

baking

painting

creating

listening

wearing

admiring

nature

sunshine

happy days to you

xx

{Easter Jars}

Yesterday my daughter and I got a little creative and made some Easter Treats.  And by "make" I mean buy all the stuff and assemble so it looks pretty.  No other craft could be easier than "the make it look pretty" craft. 

So a quick trip to the local $2 shop and I bagged some cute little jars (for yep $2!) and some lovely shredded tissue paper.  Next stop was the local grocers for top quality chocy eggs, and Easter inspired m & m's.  Who could resist a little collection of cute little fluffy chicks as well??

Assemble, colour coordinate if you heart desires and top with a cute little chicken! 

Do you make anything special at Easter time? 

scrappity scraps {my creative space}

Ok, so I mentioned before how I seem to have accumilated a vast amount of fabric scraps.  I'm just not one to ditch them - "surely I can use them for something" I'd say, before filling yet another bag, or basket, or even corner of the small sewing space, I'm conviced was the cloak room of my 1930's house.

The day came, when I could bare it no longer.  "find something to do with them or else" I threatened myself.  Which seems a little drastic really (and odd - I hope I'm not the only one that talks to ones self!)

Anyhoo - that pressure was just what I needed.  A plan to make something pretty out of my scraps....

So, lo and behold here are what I came up with!

Some cute headbands....

Some fabric bunting cards.....

And some emboirdery hoop art work....

Some of these creations were planned to attend the Sugar and Spice market with me, but alas, I couldn't make it, so when I get a smidgen of time, I might add them to my store.

So I'm pleased to say the above projects were all made with scraps.  And what about the scraps from the scraps I hear you ask! straight in the bin, I'm glad to report!

now head here for more creative spaces

xx