grateful...

excuse the quality of this picture taken on my phone..

Today I am grateful for time spent pottering about op-shops with my littlest.  We could (and do) spend hours just hanging out here...

Take a visit over to Maxabella's and join in...

my creative space...

I have so much of this silk fabric and, as you may have noticed, it has featured in a few of my posts now, I love it to bits! I usually get quite sick of pattern but not this one..

I'm making a little (dottie inspired) 'Loved' banner for display, though I'm not sure about the wonk of these letters, the 'e' is way too big, & perhaps some more garland, why not!!  I'm picturing lots of garland hanging at the narrow windows in our bedroom instead of a full curtain, all floaty & whimsy like.. 

For more creative peeps, head over to Kirsty's...

through the window...

my peaceful spot...

this is the view from our bedroom window, overlooking the balcony.  You might have been able to see more clearly if I'd cleaned the windows.  A very favourite place to sit in the sunshine with a good book, and often on a summer evening with a tasty g & t...

I love that I can be up there & the boys have no idea where I am, but I can sit & listen to their banter & funny conversations...

visit some more lovely window views over at swedish house...

@ my house...

Getting things done this weekend...

crafting outside, enjoying sunshiny days...

discovering the dress-up box...

getting stuck into those hedges, argh! I still hurt...

lunching with friends, a couple of birthday parties & wandering markets...Phew!

What's been happening at your place?  Pop on over to Lou Lou's...

a winner!!

and the winner of my birthday giveaway is...

Congratulations to Selina of Wild Things of Noosa, I hope you enjoy your gift!

Thank you all for being a part of the fun & mostly for your lovely visits to my blog over the last 12 months, it's wonderful to have you!

shadow shot sunday..

a quiet spot & a little time for me..

join in shadow shot sunday at Hey Harriet...

lovely lovehearts..

I have christmas presents pretty much sorted this year, though I keep finding more & more sweet things that I can't resist, they may just tide me over for a couple of birthdays too...

I found this pretty strand of handmade wooden hearts, such a lovely gift for a special someone, hopefully they'll make some more 'cause I'm really tempted to keep this one... 

more handmade christmas inspiration here...

my creative space...

Plans to put these gorgeous silky threads found at the op-shop this week to work on some hand stitching.  The colours are perfect, a very happy find...

we've had stunning sunshiney spring weather the last few days, so it's been a great opportunity to be outside with the power tools, getting the messy prep work done for store stock..

meanwhile, overgrown hedges and garden beds are calling out for a some attention, so hopefully I'll manage to get a little creative out there as well.  Don't forget to join my birthday giveaway lovely friends!

head over here for loads more creative spaces...

a birthday giveaway!

A year ago I started this blog, initially as a way to get my work out there, to test the waters & see how it might be received, if at all...a year down the track & it's not about my work, in fact it hardly ever was. What I discovered was so much more than that.  A world of the most incredible, inspiring, talented & lovely people opened up to me and I am soooo grateful...

I love that I can jot down incidental things of day to day life, massively frightening things that we don't know how we are ever going to get through, challenging times, fun times, milestones, just to name a few...I write it down & it's out there for all to see, but what is astounding, is that people read it & respond with such encouragement, support, a friendly word & very sound advice...

I love it & I truly appreciate it and in return I'd like to offer a little giveaway...

Simply be a follower of my blog & leave a comment on this post to go into the draw.  I'll do it the good ol' fashioned way & pull one of your lucky names out of a hat, or box or something in a week's time...

Good luck to you all lovely friends & thank you!

the weekend @ my house...

Our weekend kicked off with a trip to melbourne to visit friends, eye-spy travelling games (which became very competitive, hilarious fun but a fight to the death by the time we reached home!) meeting new babies, a housewarming, a birthday & playgrounds in between...

A lazy Sunday morning quickly became a frantic rush to nipper's training assessments - whoops, forgot to put that one on the calendar!  This followed a serious debrief over coffee & muffins before hitting the couch for a movie afternoon.  I love days like this (apart from this mornings rush) where anything goes & everyone is happy just to be.  Of course while everyone else is happy to play, it means a little time for me to pick up the hook & do a little crochet, happy days...

what's been happening at your place this weekend, join in over at Lou Lou's...

sweet trims...

You know I'm a lover of the garland & there is no end to their versatility!  Here are some gorgeous gift wrap ideas courtesy of paper & twine...

more handmade christmas goodness here...

gorgeous goodies...

I have been so very fortunate to win a couple of giveaways of late, I can't believe my luck & feel a little overwhelmed by the generosity of these lovely giveaway hosts.  I just have to share with you the exquisite talent of Sarah at Thimbles & Crumbles, her work is heavenly, you must visit her blog, there is always something lovely to see...

it was like christmas opening these individually wrapped gifts, each followed by a gasp of delight!

and then this sweet package was waiting in my mailbox after a rather gruelling day earlier in the week.  Thank you so very much to Clare from Clare's Craftroom for this adorable sewing book with nice easy gift ideas for me to whip up, and can you believe she actually included the most adorable story book pages for me to use in my projects, I can't stop looking over them, so thoughtful, I am feeling very lucky indeed!  

my creative space...

...is BUSY!!

I have had so much to do this last week & not nearly enough hours (or, if I'm totally honest, motivation) to get everything done.  I've always been a big 'list' person, though I haven't had much need for them recently...until now!

I feel so much more organised when I have a list that I can check off as I complete each item.  It even feels better just getting the to do list out of my head & on to paper.  I have several christmas orders for crocheted necklaces in various colours, I do love making these, so at least it's 'fun' busy!  The rest of my list involves getting out the power tools, a little more difficult with the little guy around, I might save that for the weekend...
You may recognise my sweet pin cushion up there, more on that later...

Pop over here for loads of creative goodness...

through the window...

this weeks window is our sunny back deck!

It's one of the most used areas of our home all year round, though it does get a little warm  under there in the summer...the picture above was taken this morning...

here are the very same doors/window tonight when it was teaming with rain & we actually had water pouring down the doors on the inside!! Water was also coming through two rooms upstairs, flooding in the kitchen, laundry & the stair well.  Time to look at that guttering I'd say...

for more window views, pop on over to the delightful Swedish House...

@ my house...

we've been making things...

party garlnds galore..

having fun, wandering the market...

& being a bit silly...

celebrating a birthday...

with very imperfect but yummy cakes...

loving the warmth of spring sunshine...

and enjoying each other!

Thank you all for very kind & thoughtful comments recently, they do bring great comfort, as life goes on, we are very much blessed...x

Visit Lou Lou to see what else is happening about the place...

today I am grateful for...

my beautiful family...I am blessed...

We had some very sad news in our local community this week, it has shocked me to the very depths of my being.  I am heart broken for the family, for the mother, the brother...how suddenly a world can turn upside down.  I have no words, just tears, and I pray with all my heart that they can find strength & comfort from those around them...I am grateful to hold my precious boys, to tuck them in at night, to have them close...

my creative space...

I'm working on fabric garlands using a very old thrifted vintage curtain.  I just love this fabric, originally I was going to use it as two separate blinds for our bedroom, but I've taken the plunge  & cut into it now...I hope it's worth it!

We're also making birthday preparations for our big 9 year old boy...

garlands, goodie bags & cupcakes still to make..

we're keeping it simple (as requested by the birthday boy, no party games this year thankyou!) taking a small group of 3 friends out for a movie & some timezone madness, before coming back home for a bbq & cake, quite the change from last weeks pink party!

visit some other creative spaces here...

through the window...

I'm joining in with the lovely Swedish House meme today 'through the window'...

this is a view from our dining/living room window on this rather foggy spring morning.  It overlooks our front veranda & is a favourite spot to sit in the summer to enjoy the cool southerly breeze from the ocean.  I do love this window (especially when my mum has been down to work her magic on cleaning it!). My little outdoor setting was found piece by piece at various op-shops, so satisfying when you find just the right things & they all work together!  We have been horrified to discover just yesterday, an enormous huntsman spider who has also taken to our front veranda.  In the 5 years we have lived down here we have never seen one of these spiders in or around our home.  They were always around as I was growing up in the country & in Melbourne in various homes but never ever here...till now! He boldly greeted me at the front door yesterday, and as I made a hysterical dash inside, he casually followed.  I ran to get a broom to shoo him back out, which he reluctantly did, jumped to the ground & headed back towards the front door! After sweeping him off into the garden with every hair on my body standing on end, I go out to find him back waiting at the door this morning.  He should thank his lucky stars he wasn't splattered at first sight, but as we have a freakish mozzie problem at the moment, I'm going to let him stick around...he better have an appetite for mozzies...

thrifty goodness...

I'm a little late joining in on Sophie's flea market finds but I just had to share these sweet goodies that came my way today...

a skirt, I'm going to stitch on some ribbon straps & wear it as a dress, perfect!

pretty yellow shoes for spring...

a suitcase for storage of my overflowing yarn stash...

& these gorgeous duck-egg blue bowls with a sweet scalloped edge!

happy days...

@ my house...

It's back to school today, as we head into term 4, the home stretch! I can not believe how quickly this year has flown by, it's going crazy fast! We thoroughly enjoyed school holidays.  As planned we managed a whole lot of not much, which was just what we all needed.  To finish off we had perfectly stunning, sunshiny days and a sweet 4 year old friends 'Pink Party' to attend...

it was lovely to be surrounded with so much girly girl tizziness, I loved it! The boys had loads of fun too.  Though they were relieved it would be ok for them to wear their regular superhero attire & not pink, they even sat down to a bit of necklace making...

Now it's back to the regular routine & I am promising myself I'll get busy making things for a November market.  Thanks to you all for your wonderful encouragement & generous, kind words, I will do it! 

pop over to Lou Lou's to see what other lovely friends are up to...

I am grateful for...& a christmas challenge...

I'm playing along with two Saturday rituals this week, Maxabella's grateful post & the handmade christmas challenge which today is filled with gorgeous linens & pretty cottons...

I love finding a special little something to wear on christmas day and to the christmas parties throughout the festive season.  As I've taken on the 'challenge of the utmost kind', I am going to do my best at accessorising little numbers that I already have & perhaps the odd indulgent handmade purchase from some super talented local crafters. 
I am ever so grateful for the markets at this time of year which are fabulous, not only for the amazing handmade clothes & accessories but also for the fun & chill-out atmosphere.  My favourite thing on a Sunday over the warmer months is to head off to the local markets with the boys, wander with a coffee, listen to some great local musical talent & run into lovely friends..
I'm also grateful for my beautiful man who gets sooo excited when it comes to his vegie garden & using his very own freshly grown produce to make delicious things for us all...

pop on over to Tracey's & Maxabella's to join in...