{le petit prince)

I'd been hoarding a little bundle of fabric for a few years now. Look it's even up there...on my blog header.  See I told you - ages!  Every now and again I would get the little bundle out of my craft cupboard, caress them (Ok I know you crafters out there are nodding with agreement) and then I would carefully place them back un-cut in the fabric closet. Just wondering....what will become of you?

Alas, the time came.  A wee little Prince was born and without hesitation or procrastication this little bundle of fabric was washed, dried, measured and snipped, sewn and bound.

All for a quilt for one little precious baby.

It was also by chance that I had this little french story on linen.  I pulled it out, half way through the quilt thinking I could cut it up and use it amoungst the other colours, but when I opened it up fully and took in just the beauty of the entire peice, I knew it just had to left as is.  Luckily mother of said gorgeous Prince relieved my anxiety as I had no idea what the story was about and after completion was a bit concerned that it might not be baby appropriate.  Thank goodness it was....

My last quilt (which I made for my own daughter) took over 2 years. 
This quilt took two days - sometimes you just don't argue with creative motivation.
And a little baby giraffe rattle to match.

So do you have a special fabric stash? 
Are you afraid to make the chop?
do share...

xx

a little more about blurb

A little while ago, I posted up a bit of a favourite website list that I frequent when the needs to do a bit of online shopping.   One of those sites that got a lot of your attention and other's of the non-blogging variety was Blurb.  Now this is not a sponsored post, but it could be.

I've loved the photo book I made through Blurb. Photos of of our family holiday in Italy.  I took heaps of memorable photos and was very reluctant to just develop a stack and put in your old run of the milll album.  When I stumbled across Blurb, I knew it was exactly what I needed.   And it was quite a simple process.  I know there are many other services claiming to provide photo books and the like, and I have used others, but this was far supreme.

Firstly, you download the software package enabling you to work on your project offline whenever you want.  You have heaps of templates to choose from.  Some pages you can fill with photos, or add text if you like. When your done, you simply upload it onto your account online and then purchase it.  Simple.  You can even make your book public for others to purchase.  Think of the possibilities.  I'm collating some family recipes together with photos to make into a family cookbook of recipes not currently recorded.

Our professional book filled with memories is something we grab and look at nearly everyday. So for those that were curious, take a look over at Blurb.  You wont be disappointed.

xx

The sound of summer....

Does your music likes change with the season?

I love it when a really good bop-y song comes along, espeically in Summer when the warm weather and a good song are just a perfect match to make you smile.

This song we discovered on our European Summer back in August.    The sound of sunshine by Michael Franti freaturing Italian singer Lorenzo Govenotti.

Some of the other songs were loving have a good kareoke moment to are;

An oldie but a goodie - Summer Rain - Belinda Carlile

A new one I just can't help but sing along to - you don't know your beautiful - One Direction

And this classic - Brown eyed girl - Van Morrison

What songs scream Summer to you? 

What are you listening to right now? 

I do hope the warm weather returns to Melbourne soon. 

xx

you know you had a good holiday when....

1. You didn't leave enough time to sign off from your blog wishing all your fellow bloggers a Merry Christmas (sorry guys!)
2. You sang Christmas carrols whilst cooking Christmas ham and making Christmas ice-cream pudding
3. Santa visited (yes, both my children were good ones) and Christmas Day was a cracker!
4. You read 3 books in 14 days (pure bliss)
5. You took the kids bike riding in the park every night after dinner and played frisbee with hubby
6. You giggled with your kids when they beat you at every possible game (bingo, hungry catapillar, go fish and snakes and ladders!)
7. Watched Sleepless in Seattle and still cried
8. Went on a date with hubby
9. Enjoyed time with my girls (one of which is mine, the other two - my neices)
10. Went berry picking
11. Didn't blog or think of blogging or even have internet connection to check on any blogs.

But, now I'm back and here I am for 2012.  No grand entrance, but just to say I'll be hopefully popping around to visit you all to see how you have brought in the new year.  Any wishes, resolutions or plans?  Well I can't wait to find out.  As for me, well I joined in with Maxabella's one word for 2012 which was a great way to keep the resolutions simple.

I still have a more practical 2012 list.  You know what I want to acheive and all that.  So will get onto that and get back to you.

happy 2012
xx

my word for 2012

Source: couragehopestrength.tumblr.com via caliemoran* on Pinterest

Hello...welcome to 2012.

I wasn't going to return to blogging tonight, but I couldn't resist Maxabella's One Word for 2012!  I can't wait to see what One Word you all choose.

For me, I've got a lot of hope weighing on 2012 being a good year.  My son starts school for starters.  I think every mother with a school aged child can verify how nerve racking that alone can be - for both parent and child.  I remember vividly turning up to mothers group with my 10 week old babe rapped and the smell of his sweet baby breath.  We sat and stared at each other.  That was 2006.  We laughed that in 2012 they would be starting school.  We laughed as we just could not imagine that day.

Well it's coming fast.

So what's my word for 2012.

Moment

Be in the moment

live in the moment

Be grateful for each moment

appreciate challenging moments

savour triumphant moments

moments to learn from

moments to laugh

moments to just be

my word for 2012

what's yours? 

share and join here

xx

my type of Christmas shopping

Source: camillestyles.com via Brenda on Pinterest

In my world, when I go Christmas shopping, it is peaceful, quiet and all is well.

There is nothing overpriced.  And I find everything I'm looking for.

I don't have to fight for a car park, or even pay for said car park and really, I can shop in my tracksuit because I don't care.

There is no havoc, no snotty salesperson to have ones eyes rolled at. Nope.  None. Of. That.

And my kids....well they are peaceful for the whole journey.

So. Where do I go?


Here are my favourite destinations....

Fishpond - for books, movies and dvd packs (free shipping!)
OO.com - for pretty much everything
Kikki K - oh surely everyone is just as in love with stationary as me....
Little shop of - delightful handmade goodies by Melbourne crafters (me included!)
Rudy and the dodo - delightful stuff for little people
Ebay - no explanation really
Asos - well, that might be for me!
Blurb - Oh just made a holiday photo book for the MIL - I'm so going to be the favourite now!
And of course, Etsy and Made It for more handmade and vintage goodness....

Have you embraced online shopping?

Love it or Loathe it? If you haven't guessed I love it.....

And if you love it, which sites do you love?

....do share and happy Christmas Shopping!

xx

From rust bucket to shiny new {yes, another DIY}

I'm pretty sure I imaged these chairs into existence.  It's not often I go thrifted and think to myself "gee I really do want a pair of fold up chairs...comfy...bright in colour perhaps, and only needing a but of tlc."

Wham!  They appeared before I could even finish this sentence in my head.  And at the stellar price of $8 a pop....these little babies took no time to shine like new.   I quickly stashed them at my folks little hobby farm - perfect spot for a bit of DIY when sanding rust and spray paint was involved. 

I then moved them to my father-in-laws shed....where he kindly finished them off by giving the seats the clean of their life....nothing a bit of metho and some elbow grease!  

Not a speck of rust in sight!!! 

Take a seat why don't you??  

So from rust bucket to sparkly new....

the only cost was the rust proof aluminum spray can for $14!

Ever found just what you were looking for whilst thrifting? 

Do share...

xx

the class gift (all for under $10)

I did a little "uh oh" when my son kept getting little Christmas cards and candy canes in his allocated Kinder pocket. 

The dreaded "class room gift" was fast approaching.

I'm not one for dishing out the confectionary.  My son started munching away on his his Candy Cane and announced that it tasted like toothpaste.  I agree.  Hmm.... my mind started thinking.....

So, without wanting to break the bank....and knowing I had 26 little kids to manufacture something for...we came up with a little Reindeer Magic Food.  A fun little crafty activity for the kids to prepare (with adult supervision with the glitter!!!)

Simple little mixture of oats, glittler and sequins and a cute little rhyme to go with it.  All in a little clear bag ready to scatter on the grass Christmas Eve.   And if you're like me and have some of this stuff lying around at home, it shouldn't cost too much either.  I just needed to purchase the bottle of glitter and print off the poem and bag label (which my son wrote the recipients name on) and I was done. 

Do you do Classroom Christmas Gifts? 

Whats your approach?

xx

My creative space - Down on the farm

This project has been along time coming.  So long in fact that I've decided my kids aren't getting it until Christmas.  It will be my Christmas present to them.  Santa doesn't get all the glory.

And now that it's finished, I'm glad I let it take a while....because it meant that it grew, and evolved and I changed my plans a few times and have come up with a gift for children that is not only fun, but practical and has a functional element.

You see, I'd been wanting to make a little farm mat for some time.

I also wanted to make one of those snazzy toy mats/bags that just hang up on a hook when your done.

So I combined those two projects.

I used felt for the actual farm mat.  Added some rather random-ish items that kind of look like a barn, a lake, a house, and a flower patch with some scraps and roughly sewing them on.   The little barn roof even opens up!

The matt is backed with some lovely bright fabric (which I could also use that way facing up as a little picnic blanket...) and with some rope threaded through the many button holes....

The farm animals and farm machinery are proudly brought to you by IKEA.  They were just too good an opportunity not to snap them up, and they love their new hand made environment.  I'm pretty sure I did hear a conversation between the Mr Goat and Mrs Pig that they were so glad not to have to put together a flat packed barn!!! Yes those allen key's are a so difficult with hooves and trotters!

 It makes this mat a cinch to pack up.

Now before you pack up and go - head over to a load full of creativity....

xx