8 Little Things

1. $26 worth of sale fabric for my Summer Sewing Challenge - to make a dress, skirt and shorts for Emerson and pants and pj shorts for Cohen.
2. Black Russians from the garden - it really has been a warm Winter, hasn't it?
3. A little skirt cut out and ready for some nap time sewing.
4. Pickings from the veggie patch - baby spinach, peas, cherry toms and chilli's.
5. Finished skirt! That makes three.
6. Purple carrots for our Sunday Roast.
7. Wise words from Oscar Wilde and Paper Boat Press.
8. Stage one of the doll house DIY complete - carpet and wall papers removed.  A much greater challenge than I had anticipated!

What lovely things have you been making, growing or doing lately?

Weekending - in the City

 

I love visiting Brisbane City. There is always a sense that something is happening. A sense of possibility. A sense that you may stumble upon something fun, interesting or different. Something out of the ordinary from our usual day to day. And so it was Saturday.

 

When our previous plans fell through I asked Cohen what he wanted to do with our day. "Make art at the gallery." (Music to this Mama's ears.) And so we did. First there were little mouths to feed, public art to admire and bridges to cross. We peered in to the river, peered up at the buildings, pointed out all the interesting things we saw. We discovered a live band at the top of the Mall and Cohen did a little dance. We treated ourselves to our favourite foods. Looked at a few stores. Then we found our way to the Pop Up Ekka at Southbank, where we patted baby animals, feed balls in to the mouths of clowns and Cohen proudly caught a rubber duckie. As we neared the end of our loop Emerson fell asleep. We wandered through the Queensland Art Gallery and on to the children's art centre at the Gallery of Modern Art, where we decorated kangaroo masks and hopped around on the scenery. By the time we were driving home both children were asleep.

 

Yes, I love visiting the City, and the City didn't disappoint.

30/52

 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

 

Cohen: Sitting on a million dollar elephant.

Emerson: A look of nervous triumph, as she reached her goal.

 

I've been especially mindful this week to enjoy the pace of our slow mornings, the simple structure of our days, and the one on one time I am afforded throughout the day with my little ones. It makes such a difference when I remember there is not so much I 'have' to do, rather things I 'want' to do, and take the pressure off accordingly.

 

Two of my favourites from last week - my milky way and this jen day.

Doll House DIY - Before

 

Had you told me, prior to having a daughter, that I would be planning to renovate a dolls house. And that I found perusing and purchasing the intended furniture and accessories for said doll house quite exciting, I most certainly would have laughed. Such things would not have fitted with the image I had of myself. Funny the power motherhood has to transform one. It is with unabashed glee though, that I am here to inform you that this darling, well loved dolls house is to be my next project. A gift from a friend, saved from her childhood. A slow burn project, as I intend to give the finished product to Emerson for her third birthday - which is still a year and a half away. I'm thinking that that is a good age for her to appreciate and enjoy a doll house, and not just chew on the entire contents?

 

In the meantime I am looking forward to stripping it, re-wallpapering and re-flooring it and adding brought and DIY'd furniture and accessories. Already I am feeling incredibly inspired by the fantastic creativity and ingenuity Max employed while decorating a similar style doll house. 

 

So, here are the before photos. I hope to be referring to this post again in the future when I reveal a sweet, finished doll house for a gorgeous three year old.

 

You just never stop learning about yourself, do you?

Sponsor Spotlight - Little Woolie



I thought a few fun questions would be a lovely way to get to know the people behind the blogs and shops that sponsor my blog (thus enabling my knitting and handmade addiction). My next guest in the 'Sponsor Spotlight' chair is Julie from the blog Little Woolie. Her blog is a place of creative inspiration, full of pastel-y shades of crochet goodness and piles of beautiful yarn. Julie has a wonderful eye for pattern and works with a gorgeous colour palette that is reflected in her projects and home. So please welcome Julie, and do pop over to her blog for a visit and a little chat.

 

 

My blog is..... Little Woollie, all about my creative exploits in crochet mainly, plus some of my other interests : colour, food gardening, cooking (and eating!), books and recording some happy bit of family life with my 3 teenage sons and husband.  I learnt how to crochet a few years ago, and have become really addicted to it, it is such a versatile craft,  I now have bits of yarny experiments all over my house.  

 

Recently I have opened a little online yarn shop, mainly to fill my own crafty needs, but it is nice to have a little income from something I love, and I love sharing the yarny goodness!

 

I secretly love..... chocolate coconut fudge, just so delish!  I am currently perfecting the recipe, fudge is so much fun to make.

I love making all sorts of confectionery, I have a very dominating sweet tooth!

 



Three of my favourite books are..... the first 3 that come to my mind,

The Book Thief -Markus Zusak

We need to talk about Kevin - Lionel Shriver

The Game of Thrones series  - George R.R.Martin

....... so many more, I could go on here forever!

 

I learnt to crochet..... in 2010, self taught, from a book that I borrowed from the library.  If you don't know how to crochet, I highly recommend you learn, you'll never regret it!

 

My shop is.... called Little Woollie Makes Yarn Store.  I sell lovely colourful yarns, in natural fibres. The shop started after I had quite a few enquiries about the yarns I was using in the croochet projects on my blog, lovely ladies were telling me they couldn't find clear strong colours for their crocheting, so I decided to stock some of the yarns I used.  I have a small range at the moment, but I am adding new things all the time, it is a lot of fun finding new yarns for the shop, I have quite a long wishlist already!

 

 

Some favourite things I have made...... I like making colourful blankets and softies and little decorative things, like Christmas decorations,  potholder etc.  

I also want to start knitting more wearable things too, but I need a few more hours in the day!

 

 

Many thanks to Julie for supporting my blog this month.

If you are interested in being featured in a 'Sponsor Spotlight', please check out my Sponsor Info page or email me - christina-lowry@hotmail.com
Advertising spaces range from a tiny $5 - $12 for 30 days.

Summer Sewing Challenge - Progress

My Summer Sewing Challenge is going swimmingly so far. I have ticked three dresses, two skirts and one pair of pyjamas off my to-sew list for Emerson. Each piece has been made with patterns, fabric, thread, zips and buttons from the stash, most of which were thrifted or gifted. I am on a roll. A little sewing here and there and her Summer wardrobe is coming together. I never imagined that I would be able to sew such things, so I am quite pleased. I put it down to years of watching my Mother sew when I was growing up, great instructions and diagrams in the patterns, and just diving in.

The skirts and dresses have already been put to use paired with tights and cardigans. Another dress (or two), a couple of pairs of shorts and another set of pyjamas and I will be ready to tackle some Summer sewing for Cohen and myself. After taking five months to knit a blanket, sewing a dress in a day is quick and satisfying. Not to mention a little addictive.

And clearly, if I am lacking motivation in future, I need only set myself a challenge.



 

 

PS. Is it just me, or how different does my daughter look in each of these photos, taken only a couple of days apart?

Yarn Along

 

I finished the Twin Leaf Loop on the way to Maleny, joining the cowl as we drove up the mountain. It was just as well. Despite being a gift for a friend, I found it necessary to wear it during the dairy tour, given it was such a cold, rainy day! It's the first cowl I have ever made or worn. Rather late to the party, no? I loved it so much I cast on another one on the drive home.

 

Reading has taken a back seat to sewing this week. After setting myself a Summer Sewing Challenge I have been turning out one item of clothing each day for Emerson. I'll post about my progress tomorrow. In the meantime, I have two sleeping children and another dress cut out...

 

What are you reading or knitting?

Joining in with Ginny.



Weekending

"Moo!"

Despite grey, heavy clouds, we ventured to the Sunshine Coast hinterland this weekend. I love driving along the ridge before heading in to the heart of Maleny.

We shared in our children's joy as we toured the Maleny Dairy, and more than once I wished I wasn't lactose intolerant. (Real cheese and butter, how I miss you!) I loved poking around the farm. Cohen feed chickens, a goat and a calf and watched cows being milked. He was fascinated by the machinery and followed closely behind the tour guide, all ears. Emerson simply pointed at everything, played peek a boo and reached out to touch as many of the people in the tour as she could manage from the safety of the sling.

We headed back to the car with a bag full of cheese and milk just before the rain began to fall.