The shawl..

A gift for my beautiful mum on Mother's Day.

This was such a joy to make. Well, it was after about my 15th attempt at trying to achieve the perfect triangle angle! I started it a few months ago when I stumbled across this gorgeous Italian cotton on a clearance table, but I got so sick of it not working and threw it in my 'works-in-progress' basket for another day. 

Isolation has been a great reminder to make do with what I already have, and also, nothing says "I love you" like handmade.  So I dug it up and persevered. The end result was definitely worth all the frustrating fails.  I've never been able to follow patterns, as you may know already. I don't know what it is but my brain just doesn't function that way. So like everything, it's trial and error and making it up as I go.  I really hope I can remember this one because I can't wait to make another!

Easter Crafting..

Keeping it super simple with some basic Easter craft this weekend. She's loving it, craving it. Everything Easter! Well, Easter bunny and egg related at least. 

Between backyard camping and toasting marshmallows at the fire pit, there's a lot of time for daily colouring in and chopping up egg cartons and beer boxes. Quick, easy, thrifty fun!  

We're normally in Swan Hill with the family and alllll the cousins at Easter time. We miss it so much this year. But we're doing our best to recreate it isolation style.

Happy Easter everyone x

Filling her cup...

She's been glued to my side this last week.  Constantly chatting, constantly needing me, constantly telling me how much she loves me and writing sweet notes of affection.  It's lovely, it is.  And I don't want this to come across badly, but my god, it is exhausting! Being her one and only, all day, every day.  I've been noticing a gradual change in her behaviour, especially the last few days, and the boys have not been terribly patient with her.  Nick and the big boy are still working, and while the other two spend a lot of their days online with friends (screen time has been very relaxed these holidays because, well...) she hasn't had any social contact in four whole weeks, and it's taking its toll.  

Last night, she was feeling so sad. She told me that she is lonely, and that she misses her brothers. Not her friends, her brothers. Who live here! Well, this just broke my heart. I had a chat to them after she was tucked into bed, and I think it broke their heart too. So they've agreed to do their best to be a bit more tolerant, to make some time and to fill her cup.

This morning the little guy joined her in some pom pom making inspired by this Instagram post and she has not stopped smiling. They've also played jenga, soccer, hide and seek and now they're watching a movie. He might be cramming, going too hard too soon, but she is loving every minute! Just quietly, I'm pretty sure he is too.

Easter craft..

Easter crafting has begun, and we made bunny ears! A quick as a wink project all before 9am, and all you need is a beer box (or other cardboard scraps), some wool and a bit of tape.

I'm completely unprepared for craft at home. I didn't make a single trip to the shops to stock up on necessities before this all began.  So we're just making use of what we have lying around...or out in our recycle bin. I might need to dig deep into our garage and see what else I can find.  I'm pretty sure there's a Knitting Nancy in one of those containers, and maybe even some old coasters waiting to be upcycled.

the big blanket..

I started this blanket back in January last year, slow summer days on the hook when it was too hot or too wet to be outside.

It soon became one of those projects that sat in the 'works-in-progress' basket for months on end because I kept starting on something new.

Every now and then I'd pick it up and crochet a row or two, I'd get distracted or run out of yarn and back in the basket it would go.  It's the first thing I've ever made that I wasn't in a mad rush to see completed.  I'm terribly impatient when I make.  I get an idea, I see the end result in my mind and I want it done now!

I'm not sure why this blanket was different, but it was lovely to have it sitting there, waiting for my attention whenever I was ready, giving me comfort when I needed it, distracting my mind with each new stitch.  Working on this was almost like a meditation.  

At one point I thought it was just not going to work out, but I couldn't bring myself to undo it.  We had a connection this blanket and I.

Eleven months later I finished off the last row, and I love it so very much.  It drapes invitingly over the end of Olive's (spare) cot in our room, and I stop to admire it every single day.  

It's not perfect.  Hiding ends is tricky with chunky, loosely worked yarn like this, and I think if I were to lie it flat it might be a little misshapen, but I have a feeling this big chunky cotton blanket is going to be loved by us for years to come regardless.

make do..

and RE-PURPOSE!

Our old deck chairs were looking a bit worse for wear, and there was only so much re-stitching (and re-stitching) you could do to patch them up.  They're a bit larger than your average deck chair and all the standard slip covers I bought in the past would never fit right.  So, I found these navy floral thrifted pillow slips and made some new covers. Now I just need to give the timber a bit of an oil and they will be almost good as new!

They'll see us through christmas, but I can't see them staying.  I think it's the dark background...and maybe the pattern.  I always do this.  I'm just best to stick to my neutrals.  When will I learn...  

Still, at least we can sit on them now!

What have you been getting up to lately?

Share your creative space here..  

festive..

it's getting festive around here, and this year it's super exciting because we're hosting Christmas lunch for my family! It's our first time of doing it for real and the first year we've not had to travel anywhere, YAY! 

so, we're crafting and cleaning and being inspired by our surroundings.  We're keeping things simple and rugged and rustic..

and a little bit sweet!

*I just found out that Kirsty is back with My Creative Space, squeeee! How super exciting!  So I've had to pop back here after posting this today to link up.  Oh the happiness..

So firstly, let me just say I did not make that fabulous pinecone wreath, it was the first christmas decoration I ever purchased when we bought our first home and were newly married.  My creative space this week has been getting my christmas on.  We made tin lanterns, which my boys thought was the best fun.  Ice, hammers, nails and everyone was happy!

I've been hanging branches all over the place adorned with anything from fairylights, baubles to little birdies.    

How about you, are you getting your Christmas on? Are you as happy as I am to have 'My Creative Space' back?

the leftovers garland..

it's hard for me to believe, but at only 3 weeks old our little girl is really looking around and taking in her surrounds.  When she has those wakey moments she listens to all the goings on and follows our voices all around, so I thought it time to add some subtle stimulation to her bassinet.

I pulled out the stash of odds, ends and leftovers and stitched up a delicately rugged little garland for her and I love it..

..and I love that it is just as pretty from behind.

my creative space...

autumn baking..

a box of these were calling out to me, and my head was whirling with delicious possibilities..

crumble. puree, poached?

in the end baked was the go, and we do not think about our thighs when baking this dish.. 

I can not tell you how absolutely divine that buttery, creamy syrup tastes. 

 And the smell filling our house is heavenly!

This is a simple one form Stefanie..

butter up a baking dish

peel, halve and core 4 pears (or more, whatever)

lie them hollow side up in the dish & sprinkle a tablespoon of caster sugar over each half

dot some butter over each

slice a vanilla bean, break it up & pop it in

tip in 2 tablespoons of water

cover with foil & bake at 160 degrees for 1 1/2 hrs

take them out, dollop a bit of thick cream onto each of the hollows 

bake at 200 degrees uncovered for 15mins

VOILA!! 

heartwarming desert done.. 

my creative space...

I made a skirt!

It's a lovely grey linen, simple, flouncy & exactly the way I pictured it in my head!  I left the edge raw, which I love, with a simple elastic waist.  Super easy, super comfy, cool in the summer time & nice with some leggings & boots on cooler days, though looking at the picture it seems I may need to find myself a pretty petticoat..

...and then I made two!  More creative place here..

my creative space...

 simple accessories...

in warm autumn tones...

enjoying the calm repetitiveness of spool knitting this week...

more creative spaces here.. 

love...

it's all about the love... 

we'll be trimming the tree this year with lots of our own handmade love... 

with a seemingly endless supply of doilies and scrap fabrics, I'm having lots of fun putting them to good use making new bits & pieces.. 

to pretty up our place...

I'm sure there'll come a day in this house full of boys, when all the prettiness will not be approved of, though for now it's linens & lace to my hearts content!

More Creative Spaces here...

loving lace...

a little rainy day creating... 

I'm completely in love with this pretty vintage lace garland!  There is something about the ruggedness of the twine teamed with dainty fabrics that just makes me smile, what a gorgeous combination..

You may remember a little while ago I used a thrifted table runner to make this soft & airy springtime scarf, there was still so much of it left that I decided to make some pretty Christmas garland too...

Our computer has been running impossibly slow of late. I've not been able to view anyone's pictures & commenting has been a bit tricky, so just so you know I'm still here, still catching up on your posts and hopefully back to contributing VERY soon!

my creative space...

some therapeutic creating this week...

 cutting up a thrifted table runner to make the prettiest doily brooches...

 I can't decide which one I like most...

I love how they've turned out & I do believe they will make lovely Christmas gifts for the teachers this year. I'll pop some in the shop soon too...

more creative spaces here...