What to wear on Wednesday: Ivy leaves

I know Poison Ivy doesn't exactly invoke feelings of 'love in the garden', but this character (and costume) has come pretty close to becoming the love of my sister's life (at least over the last few weeks)! We made this costume together for a heroes and villains party she celebrated. A fitted corset (we used an underwear pattern for a good fit), simple a-line skirt, and lots of embellishing by Lauren. Doesn't she look diabolically villainous (or lavishly gorgeous)?!

Love and the garden

After a fine morning at our 'love garden' decorated Church launch this morning, I thought it would be fitting to carry on that theme in my blog this week. As a perfect start I'd like to show off this sweet and flowery dress, made and sent with love to India, from a friend in Melbourne. I think I might call it her 'catch me if you can' dress because I just couldn't get a good picture of her for all the running around! "How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh how beautiful!" Song of Songs 1:15

What to wear on Wednesday: something scary

A few weeks ago we went to a three year old friend's 'monster party'. It wasn't very scary but it was loads of fun. Birthday boy's Mum created these fantastic singlets for each of the pint sized party guests to wear at the event! Each was different and very suited to their wearers. Best of all, the girls could take them home and continue to wear them whenever they wanted to scare (or sweeten) someone. What a great idea Bec!

I made this monster tail and third eye as our gift, and found some great stripey 'toe socks' to wear as long crazy arms.

A is for awesome

Want to have a cultured toddler? You've got to get Charley Harper's ABC's book! No run of the mill Cats, Igloos or Windows here. Instead, C is for Crayfish; I is for Iguana; and W is for Web. And the illustrations are Charley Harper's beautiful, colourful, graphic prints of nature and animals. So lovely. So fresh.

Rainbow eats

Hmmm I think if I made up my own little 'rainbow food competition' I would have to give each of these a prize (growing in my family of six, we liked to make things EVEN).

Naughtiest, but most appealing... Rainbow chocolate bark

(Melt the chocolate, pour it onto a baking tray, sprinkle (nay, cover) with crushed lollies - I used clinkers and smarties - then set in fridge).

Yummiest, and best for the big kids... Vegetable cob

(Cut the top from a cob loaf and hollow it out, spread with pesto, add layers of oven roasted and peeled capsicum, grilled pumpkin, zucchini, red onion and eggplant and sliced bocconcini. Put the lid on. Wrap in plastic. Chill overnight).

Most fun to make and eat... Rainbow jelly cups

(Make some jelly, let it cool a little, and pour a few spoonfuls into each cup. Refrigerate until set. Repeat for the next colour etc.)

Which would you vote for?

The lovers, the dreamers, and me

This has been the first year that Elara has really counted down the days until her birthday (she included her rainbow party in her night time prayers for about 3 weeks). Decorating the house in all the colours of the rainbow was a joy to match her joy! We had planned the bash to be at a gorgeous park by the water and i made these bali-like flags to blow in the breeze around us.

But, it turned out to be a rainy day so we focused on decorating our table with some simple lolly bags, rolls of coloured streamers, and rainbow food (more on that next post)!

Where all the colours gather in one place

My bright and lovely daughter is three! We celebrated with a rainbow party where colour was the order of the day. Her 'rainbow in the clouds' cupcakes, were simple to make: just plain sponge with fluffy, meringue frosting. I put the lolly rainbow straps in before the frosting, but this part was still a bit fiddly. They looked all right, but, more importantly, tasted delicious!