What to Wear on Wednesday: something suprising

I made this dress for/with my sister Lauren a couple of years ago. I call it the 'mullet' dress...

conservative at the front...

party at the back...

Simple Skirts for Spring

I always hide a laugh when seeing children out and about, in clothes which they have obviously chosen themselves. I like the 'spiderman with fairy wings', 'Sunday dress with sneakers', 'floral top/spotty shorts/stripey shoes', and 'scarf with nappy and boots' combinations best! I'm sure that this helps them develop their own style and encourages them to be confident in their personality. But I just don't think I can do it. In fact, I've put off the 'choose your own clothes' stage for as long as I can. Alas, the time has come!

Fortunately for me and my orthodox dressing tendencies, Elara likes things that match. She also likes dresses and skirts. She wants to wear one every day. (Of course we don't have one for every day... at age 3, those legs are growing so long, that last seasons skirts look like tutus). So, I've made two quick skirts from a fabric remnant and a scarf. This way she can wear them while digging in the sandpit, making and baking cakes, and playing hide-and-seek, without any cries of 'oh, that nice (expensive) skirt is going to get wrecked', from Mum :)

This one has elastic in the back and box pleats in front and back.

This is made from one scarf, just cut in half, sewn end to end, and finished with an elasticated waist.

More to come soon!

A leisurely drive on Saturday morning

...where are we going Mum?...can you tell me some questions about there?...can you tell me a song about a bat?...ba na na na na na na na ba na na na na na BATMAN!...what are some rules about bins Mum?...what are some rules about climbing trees?...this old man he played one, he played nick-nack on my num, with a nick-nack-paddywhack, big-a-bag-a-dong(?), this old man came rolling home?....what is that bit again?...this old man he played two, he played nick-nack on my nu, with a nick-nack-paddywhack, give a dog a bone, this old man came rolling home...can we play eye-spy Mum?...i spy something beginning with K...it's a kangaroo!...up there in the sky!...in heaven!...we're vikings, what do you know the terrors of the sea...

(apple time, and silence) FINISHED MUM!...let's play spotto!...

Mosaic Cake

My Sister-In-Law allowed me to make a cake for my niece's birthday. She gave me free reign, as long as it was bright and colourful. Wow...the possibilities! I chose to make a mosaic cake in some of Rayya's fave colours, purple and green. It is simple in theory, but was a bit harder in practice...purple lollies come in about a thousand different shades! Nevertheless, it was great fun arranging all those treats on top.

I ended up buying so many lollies that I decided to also make some yellow cupcakes...

And some pink ones too...

And so here is the final cake (which, by the way, was very tasty!).

Party Weekend part 2

Our second party last weekend was to celebrate the birthday of a very special girl turning 2...my niece, Rayya! It was a bright and sunny occasion, and we all had a delightful time. Elara was particularly excited to give Rayya her gift: some pink dancing jiffies, a disco cd and a swirling ribbon stick. The three girls all love to dance when they are together so it was a fitting gift! I'll post a short tutorial in the next few days so that you can make a ribbon stick for your own kids (or yourself!)

Party Weekend

It isn't hard to figure out that kid's love parties. The dressing up, the friends, the games, the food. But I think it's the anticipation that really gets them buzzing. Imagine the happiness (all week) when the girls heard that we were attending TWO parties this weekend! The first was a fairy themed bridal shower for lovely Liz, who is to be married in a few short weeks. Her bridesmaids created a charming do, with bubbles, fairy floss, sparkly cupcakes, a fairy pinata, and lollies aplenty. Everyone came dressed with wings, and the weather was so breezy and beautiful it felt like we were in an enchanted place!

And Beautiful Grace...

"I've had questions without answers

I've known sorrow, I have known pain

But there's one thing that I cling to

You are faithful, Jesus You are true



When hope is lost

I call You Saviour

When pain surrounds

I call You Healer

When silence falls

You'll be the song within my heart"


Tim Hughes.

Spring Resolutions

Resolutions should be made at the beginning of Spring. The flowers are coming, the sun is out, the windows are open. We feel alive. Now isn't that a much better time than January 1st, when you can't breathe for the heat, can't move from the Christmas food overload, and can't believe a whole year has passed? I have four for the season..

Smock some summer dresses. This was my first smocking project (a repair job for one of my Mum's costumes), and I can't wait to make the girls a few pretty pieces.

Work on the garden. This was just one corner of the backyard, as we bought it three months ago. We've done plenty of clearing (Tim thinks ten trailer loads) but need now to replant. The fun bit!

Find/buy/enjoy more music. I need help with this one. I listen to very little radio, so have no idea what is going on in the music world. The only cd I have bought recently is Adele (ahhh, love her), but I like most music styles (save the death metal and country songs though). Would love to hear who your favourite artists are.

Get together with my girlfriends more. This is the most recent 'with friend' photo that I can find. It would be four and a half years old. That is not cool (both the photo and the fact that I don't catch up with friends enough).

You'll see how well I've stuck to these in three months time! What are your Spring resolutions?