My true love gave to me: 2 Sunday skirts

When we were little our best skirts and special Grandma-made dresses were always referred to as our Sunday clothes. I guess because they were only worn to Church (and the occasional birthday dinner at 'Sizzler').

These dresses (yes, I know that I'd planned to make skirts... but skirts just don't cut it for a girlie almost-4-year-old) were made for the special occasion of Christmas! They were worn yesterday, to Church, where all the children performed an item, and they will be worn on Christmas day too.

India's is the same pattern as this dress, minus the elastic at the waist, and features some vintage style ribbon. Elara's is a made up pattern inspired by this dress, and shows off a cute babushka doll button that I found.

My true love gave to me: 11 tree decorations

Well, they are not actually tree decorations, but there is eleven of them (plus two blank ones), and they are for Christmas.

The owl pennant pattern is from Moonstiches.

Mine reads 'Love Has Come'...

the meaning of Christmas in three words.

8 great things...

...to cheer up a sad Mama

#1 Watching your bike-pants wearing daughters dance to the 'Steps' version of 'Tragedy'.

#2 Sewing a gift (it's a pocket gnome from 'More Softies') for a secret santa swap.

#3 This verse from Proverbs 31:25, in the Bible:

"Strength and dignity are her clothing and

her position is strong and secure;

she rejoices over the future (the latter day or time to come,

knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it)! "

#4 Seeing this cute and crafty shirt (by Bec from gigglezoo) on the cute and cuddly India

#5 Reading this vintage golden book in as good a french accent as you can.

#6 India's EXCELLENT cat drawings

#7 Elara singing you these words (or her version of) from 'Halo'

"Everywhere I'm looking now

I'm surrounded by your embrace

Baby I can see your halo

You know you're my saving grace"

#8 This photo

When the sun rose...

...the farmers set to 'work',

the rooster strutted her stuff,

the crops grew, and were enjoyed.

It was a fun barnyard party for a fun kind of 2 year old!

(and thanks to Cheryl and Cill for their pics)

Before the rooster crowed...

...we were busy on the farm,

with clothes to be sewn,

food to be prepared,

and decorations to make.

This girl

She is playful.

She is cheeky.

She is chatty.

She is pouty.

She is friendly.

She is cuddly.

She is so very very cute.

She is compassionate.

She is forgiving.

She is humble.

She is joy.

She is 2 today!

My true love gave to me: 10 metres of bunting

We are counting down the days until India's barnyard bash. I've finished off this country style bunting and placed it in my sewing table drawer, positioned just between last years bunting, and her baby shower bunting. This got me thinking...how big will my pile be by age 5? or age 9? or 21! Though I hope to reuse some along the way, they could be put to better use in the mean time. So, this is a call out to anyone who is having a function where these could be used. They can be to borrow or keep. Just let me know and I'll arrange their speedy transfer to your letterbox!

(vintage style)

(sweet strawberries and cream)

(unisex baby shower)

My true love gave to me: a red superhero cape.

We know a Super Awesome boy. He is faster than a speeding bullet (when on his trike up the hallway), more powerful than a locomotive (when banging his drumsticks on the drum), and able to leap tall couches in a single bound! Look, up in the sky, it's Super Asher (and he deserves this red superhero cape)!

Pink

A story. In my first pregnancy I had no food cravings: no fried chicken at midnight; no gherkins with ice-cream; and no doughnuts dunked in coffee. But I did have a desire for everything to be pink. I changed my home decor. I baked pink cupcakes. I bought myself pink clothes. I still didn't guess that I was having a girl. But Elara was born, and the pink has remained!

"Pink as pigs,

Pink as toes,

Pink as a rose,

Or a baby's nose"

All the things she says...

I only like Mummy today.
(Dad: Not even Daddy? Ice-cream? Pretty dresses? Watermelon? Your fairy garden? What about Julie’s party?)
Well I only like Mummy, AND Julie’s party.
(Not even Daddy? What about the playground? Dancing? Kid’s church? Your blankie?)
I like Mummy, AND Julie’s party AND my blankie, but that’s all.
(Next day) I only like my home today. Not Mummy or Daddy, just my home. *Sigh*

(Mum: Where has your toothbrush gone?)
Maybe it’s down the river or in the stream or maybe it’s lost in the middle of nowhere?

(Walking into Bunnings, spots a speed bump sign)
Oh look, they have hats here in this shop!

Can we go to school today Mum? I want to go to school every every every kind of day.

(After a morning of sunny outside play) What are all those sprinkles in my eyes? It must be fairies flying all around. Maybe they are flying inside my eyes with tinsel so it looks all sparkly.

My true love gave to me: 12 birthday invites

Thanks to the ladies at Mondocherry, for their business card idea. It works a treat for invitations too!

A home away from home

This past weekend, we visited a beautiful home in Gympie. Just a few days away here offered a wonderful chance to take in the rolling views from the verandah, enjoy some organic food, be inspired by books, talk about life, watch the children play in the garden, and feel a bit of freedom from the everyday. While I didn't get to spend all my moments pampering and indulging myself as I had hoped, I learnt some valuable things, which have been freeing in their own way. So I thought I'd share a little...

One of my daughters particularly struggled with the change from home to holiday. I know this is usual for children, but it shocked me to see the effect on her. I realised that the divide between my home and this home in which peace and fulfillment resonated, was very wide. My home and lifestyle must be vastly different from what I would like it to be. In my heart I value simplicity, creativity, play and resting, yet my day-to-day living is full of thoughts about bigger and better and about things to be done.

For now I might just dwell on these things (rather than develop a plan of action), and be thankful for a weekend of insight (and rolling views, and organic food, and books and friends). Thanks to John, Sandy, Martine, Noah, Kim, Lachlan, Sophie and William :)

To top it off

She doesn't drink alcohol. She doesn't gamble. She doesn't ride horses (yet). But she DOES love hats. So, our Melbourne Cup Day tradition is to craft a pretty hat and wear it while watching the race on television... except last year we missed the race by about 2 hours. Oh, and this year we missed it by about 5 minutes. But only because we were too busy taping feathers, winding ribbon and carefully balancing beads! Elara began by making one for herself , fashioning a regular tiara into this fascinator of grand proportions.

She went on to make a very colourful creation for Aunty Loz which she called the 'scarecrow hat'. Very Melbourne ;)


We had little time to fashion something to make my head look good, and as India was sleeping during the crafting of hats, she wore a bridal veil when the time came (of which there will be plenty of photos of one day). But I do have a pic of last years hat...


So, we all looked very lovely. And in our household, that is the reason for the Melbourne Cup!

Colour your weekend...

...with a hearty breakfast from Sassafras...

...with some time at the beach...

...by enjoying the breeze and food at the redcliffe markets...

...or by giving out balloons, as part of the citylife team...

The twelve crafts of Christmas

Sing along now...

12 Birthday invites
11 Tree decorations
10 Metres of bunting
9 Thank you notes
8 Doll accessories
7 Photo frames
6 Pretty cushions
5 Bridesmaid dresses
a 4 legged armchair
3 Christmas gifts
2 Sunday skirts
and a red superhero cape

*Things to note*
*It is only 2 months until Christmas!
*"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" MUST wait until after December 25.
*Most of the above projects may be abandoned for the sake of Family Fun times :)

So you think you can fairy dance?

You need three things:

A flitty, floaty fairy skirt. I made this no-sew version for a lovely little lady Julie (who is now 5!). You can find the instructions for an adult size tutu here.

A twirling, whirling ribbon stick. These are simple and fun for all ages! Cut a 20-25cm length of 9.5mm thick dowel (or cut up an old broom handle!). Paint it nice, and find some ribbon to match (100-150cm long). Screw an eye hook into one end of the dowel and use some pliers to open the eye. Loop on a fishing swivel and then close the eye with the pliers. Thread the ribbon through the swivel and tie a knot in the top!


Some prancey, dancey instrumental music. Just a few of our favourites are:
Fairytale - Enya
PM's love theme - Craig Armstrong
Moonlit River in Spring - Louis Clark
Fly Robin Fly - Bond
Pebble in the Brook - The Corrs
The Black Pearl - Klaus Badelt (this one is for the pirates)


Hope you can take a 'fairy dance break' soon!

Phoenix song

Reborn anew to live again.

One day we will see them.
Grown. Whole. Beautiful.

October: the month of birthdays

A shout out (and show off) for birthdays (and the cakes).

Yummy 'lemon lemon' cupcakes, with 'choc orange' mini cupcakes.

A great day.

Kid's perspective:

Dressing up. Hanging with friends. Laughing. Watching Play school. Eating Ice-cream.

Mum's perspective:

Dressing up (nice). Hanging with friends. Laughing. Watching Julie and Julia. Eating ice-cream.