Lately - Happy Days

Lately I have been investing my time in to a new website that combines my shop and blog, appreciating the gentle transition from a humid Brisbane Summer to a rainy Autumn, seeking out tell tales of that change, spending as many hours at the bench as I can around a toddler with a tummy bug and a newly minted four year old full of 'character', while also working on custom orders and training my new intern. (My oh my, how long a tummy bug can last and how much character one four year old can have!)

Meanwhile I have missed my much loved blog and the opportunity to take photographs just for the sake of it. Though I love faffing jewellery and directing photoshoots, my first photography love was capturing everyday moments. Just for the joy of looking, noticing and capturing. As in the photos above. Mushrooms found among the grass in our back yard. Four year old feet ready to jump from a cubby house. The first sprinkle of yellow leaves amidst the rain indented soil. I am looking forward to pointing my camera at more beautiful and mundane moments, and sharing them with you while I snuggle back in to this safe, warm space and share my musings, inspirations and creations.

Ah, happy days indeed.

Lately

There has been a whole lot of baby gazing going on this week, as we nestle in at home and give our days over to the rhythms of a newborn. Each sigh and sniffle, each expression and movement has been intently studied by devoted siblings, and besotted Mama alike. I'm cherishing having my twin sister here from Canberra for a week.

There are so many beautiful moments that I want to hold on to, and much to be grateful for.

Lately

Reading: The fascinating Snowflower and the secret fan Lisa See

Celebrating: A fifth birthday! With Lego, Octonauts and friends and cake at the park.

Admiring: Parsley flowers from the veggie patch.

Making: New pieces for the upcoming French Market.

Noticing: How quickly the days are being counted off our advent.

Treasuring: Our handmade Christmas decorations - who can help but feel a little sentimental at this time of year?

Sharing: In the children's amazement at the baby and Mama birds

Grateful: Everyday for my beautiful family - and loving this darling portrait Cohen drew of us

Growing: My first ever hydrangea blooms! After loosing two hydrangea plants and watching this little shrub not flower for two years, I had all but given up hope.

Excited: By the flutters and somersaults I've been feeling in quiet moment this past week, as the little one reaches 16 weeks.

I'm of a mind to potter lately. Be it the warm weather, the second trimester, or the time of the year. I am content to spend my days at home with small forays into the outside world. Making and pottering, making and pottering. I'm determined to go slow and not get caught up in the hectic pace this season offers. So far, so good.

Are things winding down or gearing up for you?

Lately

Loving: Striped roses. They are a welcome distraction from the dirty floor boards and the piles of dishes that go hand in hand with Doctors orders to rest, as this pregnancy has been classified 'high risk.'

Napping: Every single day! Thank goodness for children who nap at the same time... and when they don't, thank goodness for the movie 'Cars,' which keeps Cohen occupied while Mama and Emmy nap. (Sometimes one must do these things!)

Feeling: Optimistic about everything, despite the hurdles at the moment.

Growing: Crazy numbers of sweet capsicums. I never knew one plant could be so prolific. It is thriving on neglect. Any recipe suggestions? The tomatoes, sweet potatoes and herbs are also thriving, thanks to the many storms we have had of late. But I'm keeping my expectations low for the onions, which look rather unhappy with their plot in life. I've never had any luck with growing onions.

Inspired: To start some Christmas crafts. I have been ordering a few craft supplies online for some quiet crafty afternoons with my little ones. I am trying to wait until the first of December to get started...

Watching: The birds nesting in our front tree. There are now five nests. Soon, I hope to be Aunty to a tree full of baby birds.

Working: On custom orders. I love creating something meaningful, like a gift for a midwife, or a keepsake from a holiday. I'm going gently at the bench though. Usually I prepare all my metal myself, melting it down and rolling it our and drawing down the wire. These are quite physical processes though. So, instead I have ordered pre-prepared plate, bezel wire and round wire, to make things easier.

Reading: 'Country Style' magazine and 'The Yarn Whisperer'. My mind has just not been able to focus properly on books lately.

Looking forward to: Doing my next market - The French Christmas Market in West End on the 21st of December. If you are around, do come and say hello! I will have some French themed pieces especially for the event - I'm thinking mustache earrings and red, white and blue beads.

Excited: (Very, very excited!) About the Handmade Christmas Giveaway planned for Monday, which includes such lovely makers as Each to Own, Zillpa and Bravo Juliet Designs...

Lately

Left to right:

1. A 'new' vintage toy for Emerson

2. Knitting inspiration at an antique store

3. 50 cent thrifted goodness

4. Heart says yes, budget says no

5. You can pick the craft bloggers child - Mama knitted cardigan, vintage shoes, dress and toy

6. An excuse to play with alphabet stamps

7. Kind hearted. Imaginative. Arguementative.

8. Origrami mail - Hooray for Instagram postcards!

9. Cheeky. Affectionate. Fearless.

Instagram snippets

1. Purchased on our lunch date - a new cardigan, and my first dress from Forever New

2. Love borrowing clothes from my twin - particularly when they have embroidered roses on them

3. He drives and I knit - making progress on my Larch cardigan

4. Do you ever stop being surprised at how your children have grown?

5. Vintage shopping at Mount Tamborine - recognising much that I already own

6. The funny things you find in the bottom of the pantry

7. Organic watermelon from my veggie patch

8. Sneaking up on Mama under the table

9. Feeling very Freida Kahlo - minus the mono-brow, and less beads

Lately

1 & 2. Thrifted round cushion and gum boots

3. So many choices

4. Egg and dairy free baking

5. My little helper is teething

Thanks to all those who joined in the Handmade Ornament Swap! Everyone who sent an email has been included (no matter if our time zones differed and the linky had closed. If you emailed me, you are in.) Sign up is closed now and 72 crafty folk are taking part. What a fantastic response! Even better than I had expected. Thanks everyone for sending through your details and for all your kind words. And thanks to everyone who helped spread the word. We have swappers from Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, Portugal, Germany, Canada, Turkey and the Czech Republic.

I have begun matching up partners, which is a lengthy process. Each swapper needs a partner for their ornament and a second partner to receive an ornament from, so three people in total need to be matched. If they have chosen to make two ornaments that number goes up to five people. Then the variables such as national or international, likes and dislikes, come in to play. I've enjoyed reading all your likes and dislikes. I have noticed that pink and brown seem to be the most disliked; while traditional colours, embroidery and crochet top the most liked. Everyone will receive an email before the first of November with their partners details. 

I can't wait to see what everyone makes!

Lately

1. Loving baby wearing

2. Making pickled homegrown beetroot

3. Emerson cut her first tooth

4. Gifted guava and pickings from the garden

5. Making bread rolls

6. Writing in my gardening journal

7. My carrots and beetroots to accompany Sunday's roast

8. Boiling mulberry jam

9. The finished jars of jam (yum!)

Lately

Knitting: After some issues in the gauge swatching department, of which we shall never speak of again, I have cast on for the Larch cardigan. 235 stitches. (Note to self - if the swatch has fewer stitches per inch than the pattern gauge, your stitches are larger than the pattern gauge, so try smaller sized needles...)


Finding: Children's books that belonged to my Father as a child


Finishing: The second Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief

Unpacking: The woolen blankets, as the sun sets earlier and the nights get colder

Loving: Babies in Mama made knits and Cohen's drawings of an "apple tree"

Gardening: Taming the weeds, vines and basil that grew up through the watermelon vine, turning over the garden and planting out the strawberry runners

Dreaming: About all our plans for the back yard, but making do with the existing garden beds (and fencing) in the meantime

Noticing: Tiny seedlings

Around here

Quiet days watching the four part BBC series 'Emma'
Reading the delightful 'The Paper Garden: Mrs Delaney Starts Her Life's Work at 72', found via Alicia's recommendation
Welcoming the new season with a new knit, Autumn Leaves (Ravelry.)

Dada and Cohen time outdoors, Mama and bubba time indoors
Feeding throughout the day and sleeping most of the night

Friends and family visiting to meet Emerson, while spoiling us with gifts and pastries
Adjusting to being surrounded by pink after so long surrounded by blue

My first purple bean harvest from the veggie patch (which has sadly filled with weeds during my confinement)
And of course, lots of baby gazing.