Tuesday, September 1, 2009

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?

Monday, August 31, 2009

Goodbye Oven, Hello Ice-Cream Maker

Summer temps on a winter's day. Winter temps on the eve of spring (in Sunny Queensland). It's crazy. But this I know for sure... The smell of cookies or bread baking on a cold day can only be topped by that dreamy creaminess of a cold ice cream on a sweltering summer day. In fact I must have been subconsciously anticipating summer when I baked these 'cookies in cones' just a a few weeks back! If you have an ice-cream maker you can be just as creative as you are in your baking recipes! Over the past few years I've made some sublime sorbets (think blueberry, lychee, coconut even), and glorious gelatos (double choc, lemon butter, or peppermint). First new flavour this summer was strawberry and musk (pink on pink...the girls loved it!). I just used my regular vanilla ice cream recipe, traded the vanilla extract for strawberry flavour, and added some finely chopped musk sticks to the mix!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

My sewing spot

I can't believe that I have had a sewing machine for over 10 years and have never, until now, had a permanent place to store it and sew! About 4 months ago, I found this old desk, painted purple and apricot (blah!), by the side of the road.

So I added a few coats of pale blue paint, some stripey paper for the drawers, and found some space to put it in our new place...and here it is!

I tried it out today and I love it. So liberating to NOT have to put your gear away after every stint of sewing... So wonderful to have a space dedicated to creativity... So can't wait to sew there as much as I can!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

For Aven and Macy



"Birds find nooks and crannies in (His) house,


sparrows and swallows make nests there...


singing their songs in the place where we worship.


God-of-the-Angel-Armies! King! God!


How blessed they are to live and sing there!"

Psalm 84:3

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

My sister...an adult!

My lovely sister Lauren celebrated her 21st birthday on Sunday. She invited all her friends and family to dress in lace, hats, braces, flowers and all things vintage, and enjoy some lunch in the park. I think our rowdy young family managed to fit in quite nicely with all the pretty ladies and dapper gentlemen!
Lauren... Tim and India...Elara... Our family...

Monday, August 3, 2009

Elara's prizes...new pirate clothes



Aargh! We be loving pirates lately at our place, but we be a bit low on clothes enough for a capt'n and a little shipmate too. Have a look at this 'ere costume, made from some riches from the treasure chest of fabrics. Corduroy pants won't fray when we be raisin' the anchor or hoistin' the mainsail, and a stretchy bandanna will be sure to keep yer dirty hands off me golden locks.
Goodbye landlubbers!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Albert



Ahhh. This week I finally ignored the i-have-to-sew thoughts, and delighted my desire for some fun and (mostly) purposeless projects! Hence Albert the monkey, who is modeled on a pattern by Fiona at Hop Skip Jump, and also found in the first softies book . I must say, though I've used the template of the pattern, I have not kept the original gentlemanly personality of Fiona's lovely Albert. My Albert is a little more rambunctious! Strong, beige fur gave way for super stretchy red and white stripes. Pants and braces gave way for a tail just right for swinging. And after two days of being thrown around, danced with (wildly), swung, sung about, and cuddled, I don't think I could say the Albert project was purposeless after all!
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