Wednesday, May 26, 2010

feelin' the love...

gorgeous little preppie leaving me special love notes here & there, all about the house...
I just love the little love hearts so carefully placed...

baby coming up behind me, throws his arms around & kisses my back over & over & over again...

hubby's face all grateful & happy that I'd made baked chops for dinner...

the big boy running up to me at school, pausing his very serious game of chasey, to say  something completely unrelated & irrelevant but us both
knowing it meant.. 'I'm sorry for being cross Mum, I love you'...

feeling the love, feeling happy...

my creative space - getting busy...

Time to stop playing with the hook & yarn & do something practical...
working on a very basic nana rug...

a cowl...I think...not sure how to get straight edges here...

and more brooches...

for more creative spaces visit Kootoyoo...

Monday, May 24, 2010

a nana moment...

Sprung! 
Just as I slipped away to steal a moment from all the little sick people in my house, one sneaky little mr thought he'd try his hand at some candid shots....
very much a nana moment !

....mental note: the layered knits appear more' hobo' than granny chic....an outfit not to be worn outside of the home....

Sunday, May 23, 2010

superheros down but not out...

It's all happening over here! My little superheros must have let their supersonic protective shields down, and in that very moment have caught the dreaded lurgi that has seen their little classmates & kinder friends sent home to the warmth of their mama's knee.
Admittedly, our big boy has been soldiering on with a bit of a cough for about a week now, but he doesn't ever seem to actually get 'sick', he just gets on with it, things to do people to see, no days off school for him!
For the other two though, it came on so suddenly, no warnings just BAM!  fever, coughs, snotty noses.  The littlest guy has been hit the worst it seems, sounding very much like croup, which based on past experience with our eldest when he was small can become very frightening very quickly...
Anyhow, costumes are a go just like every other day, the sun is shinning brightly, so it's outside for a quiet day on our sunny deck to soak up as much vitamin D as we can...it's going to take more than a little lurgi to keep these little superheros down...

Saturday, May 22, 2010

garage sale treasure...

Hubby was slightly beside himself when we came across this little treasure at a garage sale today...


it had him at 'hello', & then to find out that it was only $10 & it actually still worked...elated he was!!


we also picked up these great bowls & a few tea spoons which we are in dire need of...our tea spoons are disappearing at a rapid rate, all very mysterious, never to be seen or heard of again...

for more new found treasure visit Her Library Adventures...

Friday, May 21, 2010

a pleasant friday night in...

washing..check, house tidied...check, dinner prepared...check, sweet treats, chick flick & a bottle of wine...check, check, check.  Just need to pop the kids into bed, and I'm all set for a quiet night in with one of my dearest girlfriends in the world, while the hubbies are off to watch the footy...nice...


Wednesday, May 19, 2010

my creative space...

I've moved on (at least for the moment) from the circular motif that I can not get enough of, to the lovely granny square...
a little wonky, but getting there & just as much a delight to create!
...though I think brooches are my thing just now.

To see more creative spaces go over to Kootoyoo for a visit...

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

motif love...

I am completely addicted to crochet! I know it's only a few motifs but I'm so excited to make so many things, I don't know where to begin!
Every spare moment I'm hooking up a little motif...they are multiplying very fast...

a dangly decoration...

some brooches maybe...

oh, the possibilities....

Monday, May 17, 2010

cheery little finds...

I'm a little late posting, but here's what I found this week at some local op shops...


I love these pink scales, and the blanket is in such beautiful condition.  I also found these 5 balls of pure wool for $2 to continue on my latest favourite pass time...

to play along with Sophie's Flea Market Finds, visit here...

Sunday, May 16, 2010

shadow shot sunday...


the superhero's at play...
pop over to hey harriet for more shadow shots...

I've done it!

I have finally made a breakthrough on the crocheted motif!  Thanks to all your encouragement & helpful hints, I am now crocheting motifs & I can't stop!


How much fun is this!
 I think it's time now I went to pick up some more coloured yarn...

Thursday, May 13, 2010

perception...

 
This has been a word that keeps going around in my mind of late.  Coincidentally, I have had numerous conversations recently with loads of different women and the topic of perception just keeps coming up.  How we are viewed by others, work colleagues, friends, family members, other mums.  It's funny how we perceive people, the reality is, we are seeing someones world through completely different eyes & in most cases we are all living the same daily challenges  that being a mum, homemaker, employee, employer faces. 
I remember going on staff retreats with work & doing the whole team building self awareness & development thing.  I remember one time in particular when I was so overwhelmed by the way my colleagues perceived me & my abilities.  It brought me to tears & really made me take a look at myself, to view myself in a more positive light & to give myself a break!  To me, it was like they were viewing a different person entirely.  I was amazed at who they thought I was, this confident, successful, caring & generous person!  It's so nice to hear that occasionally, that you are great at what you do and people recognise those very special traits we are often too self critical to acknowledge ourselves.
I look at other women sometimes & think admiringly, "God how does she do it!?" meanwhile, my perception is that she is looking at me and thinking "Oh my god, lady get it together!".  I know we can all be very hard on ourselves most of the time, but the fact is we all think and feel the same way & we are all doing a really good job!  
It's nice to meet people & talk about the highs & lows of parenthood.  To reassure one another that there are times when we all feel as though we are barely keeping our heads above water & other times when life is just a pure & simple joy.
The most profound realisation came over me just the other day...for the first time in 8 years, since I began maternity leave to have my first child,  I no longer feel the need to justify being a full time Mum & home maker!  I have always felt that there is no greater job in the world than being a parent & raising a family of good, honest, loving, considerate,independent & well adjusted people!  My husband & I decided from the beginning that we would be prepared to make the sacrifices necessary for our kids to have one of us at home at least until they all reach school age.  While this was a decision that we were very sure about, sadly I always felt I needed to justify myself because I wasn't contributing financially, that it wasn't really considered by others to be a real job & a valuable use of time (or so I thought was how I was perceived). 
You know, as the years roll on, I feel I'm getting better & better at my 'job', and now that I have finally let go of the need to justifying my life for the sake of what I think others might perceive me to be, I'm going to enjoy it a whole lot more too!  I absolutely love my life.  I love that I am a mother, wife and homemaker.  I feel blessed every single day that I have been lucky enough to do this full time.  Yes, it's a challenge most of the time, dealing with very demanding little personalities all day, but it's all worth it, the fun times far out way the hard.  For us, it comes down to simplifying, wanting less, getting back to the basics of good old fashioned family living. 
And so in conclusion to this ramble which has taken on a whole other dimension since beginning it, I am going to be sure to let all the other gorgeous hardworking mum's I am surrounded by know just how great a job they are doing too... 

my creative space...

It seems I have found more distractions to keep me from mastering this...


and so my creative space has been all about bringing this retro stool into my home, striping it of some layers & giving it a touch of vintage pretty... 

dodgy vinyl top layer nailed on & all hodge podge...

great second layer in vibrant red, such a shame it's a little worn & beaten...

choosing a fabric was proving to be a challenge, but in the end...
perfect!

Between some basic beginner books & everyones great advice on tutorial links, it is now time to focus....

to play along or just to see what others are up to, visit Kootoyoo...

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Mmmm...

It is absolutely, bitterly freezing!!  I've made a yummy roasted tomato & capsicum soup to warm us up tonight.  This is just what I love about the cooler weather, all these delicious soups so full & hearty that you can serve them up on their own as a main meal...


This is so good with a dollop of mascarpone, some roasted pistachio & a crusty bread...mmmm, can't wait!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

giving thrifted pieces new life...

So now that the gift has been given, this is what I was working on last week...
a full length apron for my lovely mum.
I was going to add a pocket using some vintage floral, but decided less is more on this one...

and my little something for me...
a nana apron!

I'm quite happy with how they turned out & I love that they are made from thrifted bits & pieces. My inspiration for the nana apron is the delightful dottie angel.  I'm a great fan of Tif's gorgeous work, but despite my efforts, I have never made it to her shop before she has sold out of all her lovely wares, and so I made a little version of my own...I must say I did feel quite the homemaker wearing it while cooking dinner last night.  My dear Nan would always wear the half apron, I think that's why  I love them so much...

...and another stool makeover. 
I couldn't go past this one either, it's almost identical to one I found a little while ago.  A nearby op shop has just received a truckload of fabric remnants, so of course I bought myself a few of those & put one to good use on the stool.  I just need to even out the gathers & I think it'll be nice in the bedroom... 

Sunday, May 9, 2010

flea market finds...

This week I finally found the perfect chair for my preppies desk.  I've been searching for a while but all the good ones seemed a little pricey...
this gem was only $7 & the wicker basket underneath was free!

and yet another stool, but a very practical & well used one it will be. At $4 who could resist...

visit Sophie for more flea market finds...

happy mother's day...

Wishing you all a very happy mothers day!  I hope you are able to enjoy the day doing whatever it is that makes you happy...
My beautiful Mum & Me aged 4.

...for me, it's a picnic in the park with my family. Mum's taken care of sandwiches, hubby's made a delicious cake, I've packed the thermos & some sneaky treats & there is fun to be had...

look at all these lovely goodies from my 3 gorgeous boys...
SPOILT!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

{this moment}

{this moment}...A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember...

Thursday, May 6, 2010

my creative space...

Putting that thrifted fabric to practical use...
A little something for a special someone....
ssshhh 'mum's' the word...

and a little something for me while I'm at it...

Pop over to Kootoyoo for more creative spaces...

Monday, May 3, 2010

try and try again...

I've been trying to teach myself to crochet recently & so far I've managed a very simple neck warmer & a few roses, all of which I am really happy with, but why is it that I can't for the life of me get the simple granny square or circular motif to work?!  Everything I attempt turns into a flower....


...and so I continue on my very determined path to achieve the granny!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

flea market finds...

I found this great box with a hinged lid at the op shop this week for a whole $5!  Once I'd removed the skirt & the cushioned top which was stuffed with lambswool (fresh off the sheep's back goodness knows how long ago) it now looks great in all it's original glory, perfect for the back deck, I think...
love it... 

icky before shot...

I also found this great fabric for $3.  There's about 3 metres of it! I think it was once a curtain & has since been backed with a lovely vintage floral & made into a couch cover or something...
I don't have a couch to fit, so I'll be pulling it apart & putting the fabrics to practical use in good time...

To join in and see more Flea Market Finds visit Sophie at