missed connections

I love this blog :: Missed Connections.

Our whole lives and world are made up of those tiny moments when something almost doesn't quite happen. And we don't act on the instincts of the moment. And it's later that we realised what slipped through our fingers. Or, what could have been.....

This is such a beautiful, beautiful way to pay homage to those moments in our life.

*all images from Missed Connections blog - click on each image to see the connections that didn't quite happen.
Sophie also blogs over here - do check it out.

51 versions of me

Holly is doing a new challenge this year, of posting a self portrait of herself each Friday. 52 Fridays - a self portrait challenge.

I've decided that I'm going to try and do this too. I have already missed the first Friday, but that's okay - I think 51 versions of me is enough anyway. You may be lucky and get more or less, depending on how my year pans out. {And if I forget in one week that I said I was going to do this each week!}.

Raw, exposed and real.

And, just so I don't feel all alone - some captured photographic memories of who is here in our house right now at this moment in time.

At 7.23pm on a warmish and still Friday night in January. The bats are calling outside. The story-telling music is playing. And my cousin, Chloe, is reading Mr McGee and the Biting Flee to my two little ones.

 

~

I've been tumbling lots these past days.

Not feeling much words.

Mainly 'cause I'm working lots on business planning and such things.

Of course, there's a million images that are making me happy and content and uplifted and inspired.

All over the place.

Do check out my tumbling, if you feel like.

{I'm really loving Nannette's tumbler page; Chutzpah. All these images are from there, but if you click on each image it will take you to the original source}.

let the sparks fly!

Happiest New Year wishes.

We spent a quiet new years eve at home. Sam sick in bed, asleep. The kids waiting, very impatiently, for the 9pm fireworks (on tv*). Me wondering what the new year means.

And some sparklers on the verandah.

Sparks have been flying around here already this new year.

Here's hoping to sparks of excitement and joy and happiness and health.

And many many sparks of inspiration and observation and anticipation of simple good things.

 *and I realised what a mean mama I am, by not taking them to see the fireworks amongst the intense new year's crowds - which I hate so so much. The tv fireworks were boring and disappointing, even for me who doesn't care at all for fireworks.
So I promised, to myself, that I will do more things this year for my children's enjoyment despite my lack of enjoyment at the activity!

an unexpected art

{image source}

It's getting to that time where I'm starting to think anew, to refresh myself.
To write down the plans, ideas, thoughts I have rambling in my head.
To try to bring them to life, in some way.

I've got pleats-and-folds-and-tucks-and-turns-and-twists-and-origami-under-over-inside-outside, wanting to see the light, to be shown to the world, to evolve from my head to my hands. To be seen with my eyes, through my eyes.

Lots of inspiration all around me at the moment. Wanting to make things, find the time to make it happen. All these lists of ideas and fleeting images scuttling about.

{image source}

I'm thinking of a long list of want-to-make in 2010. Which of course, will be way too over ambitious. And way too long. And way too silly. But, does that matter? I don't think so. I am, after all, one of those dreamers and thinkers and planners and wishers.

{image source}

What are your dreams and wishes for the new year?

The year washed clean by rain, or snow, or sun, or laughter, or tears.

{it's been raining and raining and raining here these past few weeks}.

eve of christmas

an almost tidy house
flowers to enjoy
a candle and incense
blueberries and biscuits
kisses and cuddles
one kid fast asleep, curled up tightly
one kid lying awake watching the window for a glimpse of santa and his reindeers

a very small, yet thoughtful, stack of gifts under our tree
still a bit more making tonight - those last minute plans
christmas eve is a beautiful night
full of magic and stillness
the excitement of tomorrow
the anticipation of new year and new resolutions and hopes and dreams

but mainly - the now. the stop and enjoy and let go and be.
the still and quiet.

cookie factory

We made some cookies, yesterday, to give the kindy teachers today.

We mixed, measured, rolled and cut. Then waited and waited for our (old old) oven to bake them. We made 5 batches in total. Enough cookies for everyone.

This morning the kids wrote their labels, and filled the bags - carefully counting them out, and deciding which shapes would go in which bag. While Ari + I tied the labels on with some lovely hemp twine, he talked about us being the packing and wrapping section of the cookie factory.

He's quite into factories at the moment. Mainly because of Willy Wonka.

The smell of orange throughout the house last night, was so lovely. I'll for sure be making some orange cookies again. Ari did declare them to be quite yummy.

Vanilla + Spice Cookies ::

Start with 125g room softened butter, mix with your fingertips into 225g plain flour, until resembles breadcrumbs. Add 80g soft brown sugar, 2 capfuls of vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon each of cinnamon, nutmeg and mixed spice or ginger powder. Roll out onto a flat surface, with some flour to prevent sticking. Using your favourite cookie cutters, cut as many shapes as you can. Then re-roll and cut again until you're used all the mixture. Place onto baking tray, lined with baking paper. Bake at 180C for about 15-20 mins, or until just golden.

Orange + Coconut Cookies ::

As above, but substitute about half the flour with dessicated coconut. Finely grate orange zest, not peel or rind, into the mixture. Add sugar and vanilla. A little squeeze of fresh orange juice, is you need the mixture to be a little bit wetter. Roll, cut and bake as above.

Enjoy!

where i am..... where i've been

My sister reminded me the other day that I hadn't been here for a while.

I do have a whole lot of posts written for you, but none of them flowed the way I wanted.

Things have been busy and slow, and noisy and quiet. All at the same time - well next to each other times, anyway.

Our December markets are over. And we don't currently have any booked in for January. But, we do have a shop to focus on getting set up, and opened. And that's taking time, and thought process, and energy.

We had a little set-back with one place that we had our eye on, but that ended up being for the best {things often are, aren't they?}, and now we think we've found our perfect little shop. Just need to do all that paperwork and logistics aspect of it.

The kids have started kindy now. We've waited and waited. And now I have three days each week, where I drive them there and pick them up, and have many many many hours in between for doing things.....

You know, things.

Well, yes okay - actually work is the number one thing - sewing and designing and writing business plans and keeping on top of paperwork and that sort of stuff.

But other things too. Lovely things, like shoe shopping with my sister. Let me tell you, I am way over due for a new pair of shoes! But, of course, fussy me - I didn't find any. Sylve got some cute Simple sneakers on sale - but my size was sold out.

But these ones are super cute, and I think I'll search them out. I'm not sure if I like them in Ruby Wine or Ensign Blue.

We did find some beautiful new dresses, that we simply had to take home. Veronika Maine is an Australian designer, and most of her pieces are crafted right here in Aust. The blue dress I tried on made both Sylve + me almost jump up and down. It just felt so perfectly perfect when I slipped it on. Blue cotton. I will have to photograph it for you, as the folded pleated detailing is the most stunning of any I have seen. I really do love the tucks, pleats and folds that is a signature of Veronika Maine's style. A classic, yet almost deconstructed and asymmetrical. Pieces that know your body.

So, what else. What else.

I have been doing a lot of thinking. About the closing of this year, and freshness of next year. And writing lists, and goals and plans, and hopes and dreams.

And I've been spending lovely time jumping on the trampoline with my children. My two creatures who astound me every day. {Yes, yes, and annoy me too}. Today we made spiced cookies for their kindy teachers. In the morning we will pack them up into little bundles. And Ari will write a note to tie onto each one. In his strong, confident writing. And we will talk about their teachers, and their new friends at kindy.

And we'll talk about Christmas too. And count how many days to go.

It's pretty low-key here - the whole Christmas thing. But, I do remember the thrill and excitement and anticipation I had as a child. I remember one year that Santa brought us toothbrushes, and a little dolly - set out at the end of our bed. And how each year our parents would say that it was only going to be a small Christmas this year, that there wouldn't be many gifts.

And each year, there was a special new book to read or CD that we'd jump up to put on and listen to. And a new dress - beautiful dresses my parents always choose us. And something else. And it felt like so much to us. Not because of the plastic and the quantity. But because of the time spent in the choosing of a perfect gift, and the thought put into the wrapping. And then the tradition in our family of lingering over unwrapping our presents. All so artistically wrapped, and placed under our little tree - a bonsai, or potted fig tree from the garden. With our little handmade angels hanging from the ceiling.

I do hope to be here again soon. In the meantime, I thank you all for your friendship, words and encouragement over the past year. Happy and peaceful wishes for the New Year.

slip

you know when sometimes,
something happens
and
things stop
for a moment and
then they just slip
easily
          simply
                      perfectly
into place.

sometimes just for one moment.
your heart stops
and
things just
feel
sort of
alright.

actually, pretty darn
                         good!

the simple quiet of working with fabric
under your fingers
and not
just any fabric.
but the real warmth and rawness of a natural fabric
unbleached
woven simply and finely and amazingly.

and not just any everyday plain fabric
but a fabric that
you
yourself
have made a design for
and printed
with ink
with your hands
and your heart
and your friends.

sometimes things just slip
into place and feel
just sorta right.

sometimes the quiet of the house
combined with the
background sounds
of the street and the music on the
music machine.
and the quiet in your head
helps things slip and fall
and
connect.

kids lettering and aprons in the garden

Isn't this super cute.

I love kids drawings and lettering and words. Especially on textiles.

I do think we'll do a range very soon. Every drawing and design we do, Ari sits down beside us and does something too. I love the images he shows me countless times a day. Total inspiration for me in doing my work.

Which I'm doing lots of at the moment. Doing hand drawing for my new patterns has been fun and exciting. Really good for me to get back into drawing, in a free easy way. And then, to have people actual like it - that's a massive bonus.

{Growing up in an artistic family can be both good and bad, and I've spent many years thinking that I wasn't really an 'artist'. And having to labour over drawings and paintings. But when I just let myself go and not put too much effort into it, then it flows easier.}

Come along and see us tomorrow, at the BrisStyle Indie Designer's Market at St Augustine's Church grounds, Racecourse Rd, Hamilton. 9am - 4pm. We'll have heaps of new patterns and sewing kits. As well as our fabric fats for you to add to your stash. And of course our funnest little toy ever. So, pop in and say hi - won't you. 

*Advent calendar from Eeni Meeni Miini Moh.

giveaway

I'm participating in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway day again, but this time over at our Selvedge House blog. So pop over there and check out the delicious little treasures we have on offer. We're going to do two draws, so more chances of you winning!

little collections to share

I am really enjoying having my little tumblr page to collect the things I discover during my little wanders around {blogland}.

Maybe I'll have more of my own, from wanders around {real land}.

I'd love you to share some of your own favourites, on my tumbling page, if you like.

*'love hope joy' image used with thanks from Sweet William.

rolling and tumbling

Three things today ::

1 ~ I have started a tumbler page. Normally I collect all my pretty images in a folder on my desktop. Sometimes I look through them. Sometimes they just sit there and become an overloaded folder of things. So, in order to try and keep some order to one overflowing aspect of my life and my computer (golly my inbox is crazy). I'll be collecting things there, if you feel like having a look at some pretty images, mostly with no words. Click on images to go to where I found them.

2 ~ I am making a bag today, for the next door neighbour boy's birthday. We love having two boys next door who have become great friends. At our last house there weren't really any neighbour friends. The kids jump fences and play games together almost every day.

3 ~ We are going to roller derby tonight! Can I say that again..... We are going to ROLLER DERBY tonight. I never ever ever thought I would go and see something like this. A little while ago, Sam + I went to see the movie, Whip It, and it was heaps of fun. Then Sylv picked up a flyer and said did we want to go. So, we're going.

Sure there'll be an update about it. You never know, we may become Roller Derby fans and follow all their games all Summer long. You just never know these things, do you.

And, ummm, do you think Juliette Lewis will be there? She's my girl crush.

i'm coveting

l: Nola Laptop Wrap in Tomato  r: Josephine in Fushia Tree Navy

I've always loved Amy Butler's fabrics and styling and sense of passion, combined with her love of colour and shapes and overall attitude.

I buy little pieces here and there, but really want her whole fabric collection. Just to have. I sew with it in small amounts, eeking it out so that it can last and last.

You know, trying to do the whole, not buying lots of new things and more fabrics and that sort of thing.

I've got her book, Midwest Modern. Which I love. Seeing sneaks into her life, and her home, and her inspiration. And the lovely natural easy way she writes, as if the book is her sitting and telling stories.

l: Josephine in Fushia Tree Navy r: Josephine in Fushia Tree Tomato

And now, I've just received an email (I'm on her mailing list), about her newest range of handbags and travel cases. And oh. oh. oh. That's pretty much all I can say. I don't know what got me about them. The colours, the shapes, the organic cotton, the practicality of them, the sweet little Amy swing tag.

Even though I sew, I don't often get to sew for myself, and often not spend time designing and making new things. So, even though I have quite a million bags one more special special special one wouldn't hurt, would it.

l: Muriel in Fushia Tree Tomato  r: Opal in Fushia Tree Navy

In truth, the last bag that I actually bought, as opposed to sewed for myself, was a Lulu bag, which do I love but is one of those covered in plastic style bags, so gets hot in Summer.

So, Sam, if you're reading this - this is what I want for Christmas. Only, I can't decide which one I like best. Some help please, do tell me your favourite colour, style. What would you choose? {Actually, there's two on this list that I wouldn't mind having - both very practical. Isn't that laptop bag so lovely. I'd feel very special showing up to meetings with my lappy in one of those!}.

l: Muriel in Fushia Tree navy  r: Opal in Fushia Tree Tomato

I'm not going to tell you my top ones, but am really keen to hear what you think you'd choose.

*Click on each image to be taken to it's link.

to mark the dates

There is no calendar on my walls this year.

Is that the reason I'm so disorganised?

I decided that I didn't want to buy one of those regular calendars again; one year we have The Hungry Caterpillar, one year we had beautiful Antarctic photography by Frank Hurley, one year we had Degas, and Klimt. And many others I can't even remember.

 2010 Art Calendar by Gretchenmist - this one will be on my wall next year.

I have already bought my calendar for next year. But I'm still seeing more and more in my online looking - and keeping wanting more and more. Is that because I want to, need to be more organised next year. Or is it because there are so many amazing calendars around.

And I don't mean the ones from regular shops (though I have noticed a theme with them this year, that they are mostly all being printed on 'eco' paper - which is a good thing).

I mean the beautiful hand crafted ones. The ones I see on PaperNStitch (of that one page search, there are many that I do like), or Etsy (though out of that 4,463 I'm not sure how many I do actually like - and to be totally honest with you - have not searched through all of them!), or on blogs here and there.

Above top: The Art Of... Calendar by Emily Ann

Above bottom: Tea Towel Calendar by Cicada Daydream

Hand Screen Printed Advent Calendar by Kristen Doran

I'd love to know your favourite calendars for next year - one can never be too organised!

*All images used with thanks. Click on each image to be taken to source. 

a collection of a week

it's been a busy week
full up of lots of different types of things
:: early on thursday morning we said goodbye to our boys, who went to cairns for 5 nights.

:: i spent almost the whole of thursday sewing little bags for the ABCD gift bag. M filled them with lavender  - which was a good project for a 2 3/4yr old, she took it very seriously and carefully spooned it into each bag, making sure she put a business card in each one.

(this is Kim's photo of my little bags i sewed)

:: on friday we went to the beach with Sylv.

:: saturday was spent at home, pattern writing and sewing and general at-home things. M played happily on her own for most of the day.
my dad, uncle + aunt came to stay the night (so we had to tidy up the house!).

:: on sunday, M went to her grandma + granddads. she was very happy to go without her brother, singing songs about going to the park on her own, without her big brother! she came home tired and happy, with big cuddles.

i went out to Paper Boat Press Christmas Show, with my dad, my sister and my dear friend. i came home with two little ceramic stars that we will give the kids on Christmas eve (they got some last year, and i think it will be a little tradition we will start).

:: on monday i sewed cushions and continued with my pattern writing. M played around my feet. we baked a (not too exciting) cake. we took photos of the cushions; these ones for our home, and these ones for market stalls. we chatted to our neighbour.
{these cushions are made with the Betz White fabric i bought a while ago, and are backed with black hemp. they look really good on our couch}.

:: on tuesday (that's today), M + i went out for breakfast. then the post office and the bank - those sorts of exciting things. then i dropped M at Sylve's house, they went out for lunch. i came home and tried to catch up on a few things. i tried to tidy. i forgot to have lunch until 3pm. i forgot to drink much water. i did manage to make a few phone calls.
we went to the airport to pick up our A + Sam.

*these few photos are remnants of one of our days of play - babies hiding in boxes and scattered across the floor, and drawings of angels, and picnics set up for mid-night snacks of oranges.

this afternoon

 

this afternoon
the kids were out
at my sisters.
after my meeting
in a tidy house
{visitors are always a good
excuse
to tidy
my house}.
a quiet house
work to be done
doing it
slowly
slowly
and thinking
and planning
and writing.

i take a moment
to sit
on the back
verandah

******************************

i wrote more than a week ago - a life time ago.
the house is quiet. kids at their grandparents (sam's parents) for the day. while i do paperwork and tax and boring things like that.
i eat polenta for lunch, with some things thrown in
exactly the way i like to cook when i'm at home on my own
experimental
no-one to fuss or turn their nose up
one pot
for ease of cleaning.

***************************

have a look over here, at these fantastic doorstops. she may even be making some, or something similar at least, for our December markets.

*these are a random assortment of photos, taken a while ago (Sept) at a friend's beautiful house in the forest. they are making me happy right now, a quietness.
still-life.

enjoy your weekend my friends. xxx

skyline

Is it just me, or is this a pretty looking skyline.
Not just the possibility of what those massive structures mean.
But the way they look
like they're tumbling across the hilltop.

image from here, found via an email from this woman. Go and have a read. 

toast in the post

{ok, sorry for the silly heading.}

Yesterday these beautiful catalogues arrived in the post. Can you believe that they send these out for free. These are so beautiful, the styling, the colours, the paper (FSC paper stock), the photographs of vast landscapes.

And, oh yes, the things in there.

I've found my dream dream dream dressing gown. But, by golly, at that price* I'd have to wear it every single day. So, it's staying on the dream list.

Silk velvet in cerise.

{oh, I love cerise. The word, the way it rolls around. The colour itself. I once had a skirt that I dyed cerise. A teeny little box pleat skirt. It was grey before I dyed it. And then went the most amazing deep cerise.}

Imagine wearing this dressing gown with these velvet lined slippers. Oh, one would never leave the palace would one.

I could easily show you every photo in each catalogue. But, you can view them all online here.

*165UK pounds (I can't find the little symbol on my computer...) equates to about $297 AU, then add in postage.

at the moment

WREN handmade

I should be doing things.

the things list includes (but is not at all limited to):

cleaning house

washing up

hanging clothes on the line (even though it will probably rain again later on)

 Urban Clothes Line

getting the paperwork done

playing with my kids

putting clothes away

doing grocery shopping (when you run out of toilet paper, that's the final last excuse, for my family at least)

writing patterns

working on to-do lists for the BIDM in only a few short weeks

...............................(feel free to include any other regular things that would normally go on a daily list of a work-at-home mum).

{i'm sorry, i thought i had the link saved for this one - but don't.

if you know where it came from, please do let me know}

instead I am:

drinking my morning coffee (yes, late I know - I got up early and went to the gym, and then haven't been ready to make my coffee until now)

enjoying how the chitter chatter of my two little ones as they make their games and play around my feet

dreaming of things I could make (but know I never will)

researching for inspirational things that make me happy.

trying to work out how we can afford the land we visited yesterday (it has no house, just beautiful forest)

{these photos are taken from the real estate website.

it was rainy rainy rainy yesterday, so there were no views like this

- only mist and fog. but beautiful trees to look at}.

researching* things that my sister could make (cause you know, she has all the spare time in the world, but doesn't know how to blog-hop like me! sarcasm doesn't translate to words so well, does it....)

promising my kids that we'll make little cakes, after I finish my coffee

wishing I had a cleaner, or a maid, or better still a servant. Isn't that what the kids were meant for?!

wasting time writing silly lists, when I should be preparing lists as organised as this lady.

 organised - Edward and Lilly

*we all know what researching means - don't we.

** all photos used with thanks from original source. click on photo to be taken to site.
*** i just remembered - I found the cloud mobile on here, which links over to here.