A new link...

Have found that some dear person has linked to our blog, loving our party bags, thanking you dear girl.

And so sharing the love with everyone else... here is the site which has some great ideas, some very pretty pictures... and loads of eye candy.

Hiding?

Where are you dear sister?

Off To The Markets

Today I am off to have a look at the markets... relatively new ones that have started on the coast... the great thing is they are at The Arts Centre INDOORS so rain, hail or shine they WILL BE ON.

Did you want to come along Pippy? I have tried to email you, I shall call you this morning as well... Hopefullly I will be able to offload The Little Men so that I can take my time and really have a good look.

What next?

This is a mystery post.

I am going to give you a taste of what my next project will be made from... 

So pretty. Some beautiful vintage fabric I bought off eBay and some pretty lilac from my sister's stash...

My quilt...

I spent part of the summer school holidays at my mother-in-law's (MIL) house. She is a mad keen sewer and crafter and runs classes and has oodles of inspiration and fabric and ideas and and and...

So while I was there I got to thinking and decided that I would revamp a couple of things at home:

1. I had an old doona cover that was past its day but too good to throw out, and

2. I had a beautiful old woollen blanket that the kids REFUSED to have on their beds because it is scratchy.

What to do?

I made squares of all if... 35 of the blanket, and 70 of the doona fabric. I stitched the blanketing into the centre of the fabric and then stitched it all together like a patchwork quilt... well... it IS a patchwork quilt I guess.

I thought I would get a bit creative and see what I could do with the freehand embroidery needle... 

I am sooo happy with the results... I added the boys' names, plus all our pets that have made an impact on our lives... plus those little inspirational words to fill in the gaps.

I also decided to keep the original tag that was on it... a throughly vintage and gorgeous tag that has pride of place in the corner square... just to remind whoever finally ends up with it that it is a:

"Physician

Standard Chillproof All Wool Blanket

Made in Australia"

And to top it off, My Little Man sleeps under it every night, 

loves it to bits and thinks I am amazingly clever. Gotta love kids.

Who's Counting Now ?

16

sleeps until

Christmas Day !

It's Party Time!

OMG! 

Once I got started on party bags, I totally loved it... there are so many pretty ideas in my head... how can I get them all out quick enough... all I need is a little girl to have a party and bingo, I can use them myself... which makes me think... I must make some for boy parties...

I have been busy....

After making the paper bag party bags (which I need to show you... another time) I thought how nice it would be to have fabric ones!

Hmmm... I had the piece of material in mind... a long time ago I discovered the frill from a vintage bed cover in a dear little op shop in Yamba. Half of it was used to cover my wooden ironing board (also an op shop find) and the other half has been sitting there waiting for the perfect project.

Voila! Gorgeous party bags!

I would love to go to a party and get a loot bag that is keepable, reusable AND gorgeous!

Visit our etsy shop to buy online.

Snail Mail

When I was a kid, I loved getting mail. And sending mail. We lived in the country, we had a huge big mailbox that I passed each day to go to the bus, and getting the mail was the highlight of my day. I had penpals from all over the world. 

I remember one time I entered a competition with the local telephone company and WON! The prize was to speak (on the telephone... no skype or ichat in those days!) to a nominated person overseas. I chose my penpal of 5 or so years from Sweden. We chatted for about 20 minutes... It was hard going, her English was good, but not that good... parts of the conversation were very stilted and it didn't help that the phone was connected to the wall in the kitchen and the privacy was non existent. Ahhh... life is so different now... (oooh I sound old now!)

Anyway, I tried to track her down a year or so ago... never found her. We wrote to each other for 21 years... so amazing... Somewhere amongst all my stuff is the box of all her letters... 

But what I am getting to... even though it's taking me a looooong time, is this:

our new beautiful handmade envelopes! They are very lovely. On a lovely parchment type stock, we lovingly designed them, handcut and they come with a set of sticky dots to seal them when you post.

The back of the envelopes say "Words have wings"

I wrote this because I believe that words have the ability to give our spirits wings... we are happy to recieve words of love, encouragement, praise... kind words lift our spirits... and they are so very easy to share.

I still, to this very day, LOVE to get snail mail. It is sooo much nicer than an email. I love the speed of emails and the simplicity of it, but the old fashioned surprise in the letterbox is definitely something I will always love.

How about you?

New things

It's always so exciting when we make new things...

Pippy really is the brains behind this one... and the patience to create them all so lovingly.

Not only are they all different, right down to their skin colour and hair colour, they are so lovely to look at, I just wish I had a girly whirl of my own to share her with. The boys said "Oh wow Mum! They are fantastic! Really nice. I like her, no... I like her the best... oh it is soooo hard to choose..." but then they turned around and ran away to play with a ball.

I don't really understand about balls and boys. It is so strange how they can kick and throw and catch and kick and throw and catch and kick and throw and catch all bleeding day. I can't do it! I really can't. I tried once, but it completely does my head in... I am constantly having conversations with myself about what I should be doing right now. It is so hard to stay on task with a ball...

Anyway, these lovely little dollies were a hit at the markets and I can understand why... I remember my paper dolls... In fact, I still have my paper dolls... I will take a photo of them this weekend and post a picture of a REAL VINTAGE paper doll... fancy that... I had not made the connection between mine and these... wow.

Kingscliff Market

We had two little helpers at last weekend’s market at Kingscliff.

Here are the feet of one . . .

The early, early morning (out of bed at 3:15 am)

and all the excitement were just too much by lunchtime,

so they made up a bed under the table and attempted to have a sleep!

It was a breezy warm day and we were lucky enough to be placed under the shade of a tree.

We ventured over to the beach

and collected pebbles and shells and waded in the water.

There were holes in the sand where the sand crabs were seeking refuge.

We found a heart shaped rock, smoothed by the waves.

Back at the market a large cat was playing a violin dancing on his back legs.  

There was a lot to see and do.

If we saw you there – Hello again

and THANKS for stopping by!

Keep your fingers crossed for us – we have our name on
the Casual Stallholder List and would love to go back!

Until then,
be sure to keep checking our etsy site
for new goodies we’ve made!

Who's Counting ?

32

days

until . . .

Christmas Day !

dreams...

I found this beautiful blog...  Lissy Lou and the 2 Little Boys

and this:

which is a great way to keep a track of what you like... it's amazing. 

I thought I liked a wide variety of things, 

but very quickly I noticed that there is a theme in what I like...

anyway...

I always seem to find the ones offshore... 

far away in other lands... 

and I fall in love with them

and I daydream 

and I wissssshhhhh ...

and I waste time surfing, surfing, surfing... 

and I think,

if only I had a girl, 

I could have fluff
and pink and flowers 

and dreamy white rooms with ribbons 

and teddy bears who watch the world go by
through wood framed windows... 

(sigh)

but alas I have an army of boys in my life 

and so happy I am here where I am...

but 
still determined to get my fill of pink fluff and blurred dreamy edges 

one way or another through the virtual world of another's eyes.

But seriously, LissyLou is lovely. 

I love it. 

It's pretty and quirky and within the first few posts it 

got me with this:

There is a fine line between

'hobby' and 'mental illness'.

Halloween at our House

My goodness Halloween this year was interesting!

Most times we go to my friend's house and the kids 'work' their street. 

This year I decided it was 

TIME 

to DO IT IN

OUR STREET!

The Little Man (9) got all dressed up. We straightened his CURLY CURLY hair so he looked like a fright night creature, he donned his velveteen cape and hood. The Big Man (11) was too cool to dress up this year, so he and his mate, Hazza, went off trick or treating in civilian clothes. (He won't do that again! He didn't believe me that people wouldn't be impressed! but he believed THEM when they said "You haven't made much of an effort mate!" Tee hee... one point to Mum!)

My two nieces arrived to escort the motley crew around the streets,
dressed as none other than 

WONDER WOMAN and

 Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.

Off they all trotted at the very civilised hour of 5.15pm!
(So cute, it was still daylight!)

And then the stream began... 

approximately 50 little people knocked at my door, 

some with excited...
"Trick or Treeeeeeat?"

others with dull and monotonous

"Triiiick orrrr Treeeat?"

Those who sounded the happiest to be in my yard got the best lollies. 

Those who noticed Sydney (our resident skeleton) got extra again.
I told the children who cared that he was my husband...
some of them laughed.
Some of them didn't.
Some of them backed out of the gate never letting their eyes leave mine.... oops!

After about 90 minutes my babies burst through the door, 

talking ten to the dozen (what does that mean?) 

and heaving great big lumpy bags in their arms... oh dear! 

The Little Man goes straight to the cupboard, grabs the kitchen scales and starts weighing his loot. Imagine my surprise when he comes up with 650g!

650g of lollies!!!!

What!?!?!?!

"Oh! Oh"" says The Big Man who is always better 

than The Little Man or trying to be, "Let me weigh mine!" 

950g!

I am shocked! So shocked! Completely shocked! Outraged even!

One kilo of lollies simply for walking the streets and 

having the gaul to walk up to a strangers door and ask for lollies? 

It is ludicrous! Absolutely, positively ludicrous! 

But of course, next year will come and I will do the same again 

and I will be shocked and horrified and entertained 

and love it all again until ...

of course...

 I try and get my gremlins into bed but the sugar rush has taken hold

 and they don't sleep for hours 

and hours 

and my patience is wearing thinner 

and thinner 

and I am starting to tear at my hair 

and my clothes and my skin...

Happy Halloween!

A Halloween Adventure

In the true spirit of Halloween, Little Sister,

I have been lurking in the shadows...

 and trick or treating

with the scariest little neighbours I have ever seen.

Last year, first thing in the morning on October 31

children chattered and played in the street

dressed in readiness for the big event event at dusk.

But this year was different.

There was no early morning laughter, or early sightings of frightening outfits.

I wondered if I spent the day preparing decorations and treats

if I would have any visitiors at all.

I live in a house with two resident male persons,

with no enthusiam for this quirky American traditon.

So I spent the day hanging lights, bats, spiders and webs alone.

I shopped and made treat bags.

The boys rolled their eyes.

I asked them to check if the lights were working.

They smiled. They grinned at each other.

It was not yet dark.

There was not a child to be seen.

I crossed the road and had coffee with a neighbour.

Night time was here.

From my coffee cup I could clearly see our stars and moon

and the fairy lights beckoning anyone passing by.

... And then it happened !

The pitter patter of little feet stomping up the stairs.

I smiled silently from my neighbour's house,

imagining the boys cursing my name,

and clambouring for cover.

But there was no escape. 

This time, THEY had to be the bearers of gifts !

A brief growly grumble was heard greeting

'Happy Halloween'

to a sweet, tiny fairy with long blond hair.

A treat was chosen,

the fairy carefully descended the stairs with her siblings

... and the growler retreated to depths of darkness.

I guess thats what HALLOWEEN is all about.

Its a time where even the most grumpy, gruesome of people

can fit right in and feel at home !

As darkness set in,

a total of 49 zombies, witches, gremlins, faires and more fairies

- all very well behaved and with manners to make any parent proud,

made the journey to the top of the stairs to Trick ot Treat.

Friends meeting Friends,

and neighbours saying 'Hi'

So next year we'll be back...

... with Halloween Bunting and treat bags to share ...

  

What is bloggable?

I found a list of 'suggestions' on what to blog about. Here's a couple for you to ponder (and here's some ideas for that sister of mine who has yet to make an appearance on 'our' blog).

1. Idea Making and 'How To' posts

2. Run a contest

3. Share a funny story 

(usually about our kids)

4. Share a good experience

5. Share a bad experience

Hmmm... will that get her going?

Do you think she'll get the hint?
do ya? do ya?

How pretty!

Christmas Bunting

We are really happy with this bunting. 

We actually have all sorts of bunting 

but this is the first one to hit the blog. 

It is so pretty.

I hung it on my chocolate wall 

for the photos and the kids got all excited, 

they thought it was Christmas soon! 

How bad did I feel!

These beautiful bunting sets are stitched onto satin ribbon, are made of durable card and feature a trio of happy jingle bells. A perfect gift idea for a teacher or friend, or simply to brighten up your own home this christmas!

Wren

It is raining...

Today it is raining. Yesterday it was raining. And the day before that and the day before that... and so I retreated into MY room, the one at the top of the stairs and with the children playing cars at my feet, I started a new collection. Do you like it?

Of course the children wanted to make them as well, so we have erasers all cut to pieces from one end of my room to the other... but who cares? I don't.

Wren

sarahjane

Just found this beautiful little online shop and blog. The illustrations are so gorgeous. I went shopping (sarahjane uses etsy) and found so many beautiful cards and pictures... sarahjane is based in Utah, but well worth a look.

Wren

Hey sister?

You know how we never get to catch up, and we never get to swap ideas, and we never get to share what we're creating?

Thought of this!
Good idea Huh?

Now it's time to stop talking about it... It's time to start doing. So here we are. Finally doing it.

Two sisters having a go... sharing, caring and being creative over the miles...

This is the beginning... of the rest of our lives.