Taking Stock In October

Travelling Companion Studs

Topaz Jane Eyre Ring

Maeve Rings

Making : animals from play dough, sticks and leaves with the children
Eating : blueberries, when the kids haven't eaten them all first
Drinking : less wine, and buying flowers for the garden instead
Reading: about homeschooling, and incorporating those ideas in to the experiences I plan with the children, and the way I handle school homework
Wanting: to make the most of the cooler evenings before Summer comes and makes the nights uncomfortable.
Looking: at all the pretty things in Frankie and Country Style magazines
Playing: rocket ships, robots and water play with my imaginative toddler.
Deciding: my garden needs more flowers
Wishing: I had a cleaner who would take care of the dishes and the bathroom for me - least favourite jobs
Enjoying: feeding the ducks with little friends
Waiting: with excitement for the photo shoot images to be ready, while trying not to rush the photographer!
Liking: rainy mornings that make me want to stay in bed and read all day
Wondering: what would happen if I just DID THAT, just stayed in bed all day, the world would keep turning, right...
Loving: seeing my jewellery being worn by lovely ladies
Pondering: my goals for the next five years
Planning: Photoshoots for next year already 
Buying: stationary online - thus avoiding shopping with the little ones and impulse buys...
Listening: to the new podcast - Thrive By Design
Hoping: my sister gets her job promotion
Marvelling: at the way my oxygen bottle runs out in the middle of soldering a project and never at the end
Taking: time to rock my baby to sleep and then just sit with him in my arms and breathe him in for awhile before putting him down
Needing: a hair cut - thank goodness for messy buns
Questioning: whether to decorate for Halloween this year?
Smelling: wet leaves and cool breezes
Wearing: a pair of my 'Travelling Companion' Studs, and loving them
Following: The Black Hen on Instagram, and wishing I could pop over to Tasmania and wander around their gorgeous store
Noticing: the Jacarandas in bloom all over the neighbourhood
Knowing: that our Mulberry season is over, but there is still a stash in the freezer
Thinking: that there will be another Mulberry Crumble happening soon
Admiring: 50 of poetry's most poignant lines
Sorting: out all of my paper work and finally getting it all up to date. Phew! (Now to keep it that way)
Meaning: to cull the number of newsletters I get in my inbox
Bookmarking: Ellie's blog for A Week Of Slow
Coveting: half the Kikki K store
Opening: bills and bills and bills and bills
Giggling: at the way Miss three says, 'once uponce a time'
Feeling: so good about going to yoga one night a week and making it a habit
Snacking: on honey Macadamia nuts. Yum!
Trying: to get my book club book read... 
Hearing: 'Happier' by Gretchen Rubin - which I have been binge-listening too and loving! So good! Start at episode one and go and listen right now, ok?!

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Joining In with Pip to take stock.

Taking Stock

Ah, school holidays. The first week has passed quickly. How I have been loving the slow, cold mornings, absent the usual school routine. Laying in, pottering around in pjs, eating porridge around the table and pretending we are the the three bears and Goldilocks, drinking cups of tea - while they are still hot. Hooray! Not loving the series of petty arguments between siblings however.

The kids have been making up games, like 'Bird watching' which involves plastic binoculars, clip boards and a bird book. The new chairs and table in their cubby house make for the perfect bird watching spot. And while Cohen looks up birds in the book, Emerson draws squiqqles as she 'keeps tally' of the number of birds they have seen. I love it.

Cohen and I also started a little gratitude project at the beginning of the month. We have been talking about being thankful and how 'gratitude turns what we have in to enough'. (Quite an important lesson for a six year old who has really started to take notice of toy advertising.) I found a free printable on Pinterest with space to write each day. I am loving his reasons to be grateful so far - playing with my sister, new battery in my watch, brown sugar on porridge.

Also lately...

Making : stock for the Red Hill Fair in Brisbane later this month
Writing : My morning pages every day and loving the process
Drinking : Triple mint tea
Reading: 'The Road To Middlemarch: My Life with George Elliot' by Rebecca Mead
Dreaming: of travelling around Tasmania and tasting all the food and wine 
Looking: forward to going to Finders Keepers market this weekend!
Playing: 'Spies' with my big two little ones
Collecting: leaves, seed pods, mushrooms and flowers, while walking with the children 
Wishing: for more sleep, always more sleep
Enjoying: A rare night out ALONE with my husband
Waiting: Until my twin sister comes up later this month
Liking: Pippa's new woven rope jewellery collection
Listening: to an audio book of Liane Moriarty's novel Big Little Lies while I work, then staying up way too late because I don't want to stop listening! (Go and get a copy!)
Loving: that my thirteen month old 'baby' is standing on his own (sob)
Pondering: how long until he starts walking
Considering: how much crazier life will be once he DOES start walking
Buying: an online photography course by Kate Berry and Peta Mazey (with the code WOAH50 to bring the price down to $14.50!)
Watching: the new Jurassic Park movie and thinking I would have nightmares, but then not
Cringing: at STILL toilet training a stubborn three year old... tell me it will end
Needing: reassurance - see point above
Questioning: why siblings fight so much...
Wearing: pants, jeans, flats and a cardi with a scarf - my go to Winter clothes
Following: two new boards on Pinterest, nest and Modern Jewellery Design
Noticing: that all my favourite clothes have pockets
Waiting: for a chance to read these two sample chapters from Todd Henry's latest book, Louder than words: harness the power of your authentic voice.
Eating: at the 8 Street Market. So so good!
Admiring: All the countries that support marriage equality
Hoping: Australia follows suit soon
Sorting: through two bags of beautiful old buttons that I was recently given by a family friend
Disliking: our treatment of refugees. Our children will look back in shock at this period and the way our country treated those in need. :(
Bookmarking: the wonderful illustrations by Liekeland
Coveting: this Clementine cardigan
Giggling: at the Penguins of Madagascar cartoon series on ABC3 
Savoring: the good feelings
Snacking: constantly! Breastfeeding equals snacking.
Helping: the children make jelly and play dough
Hearing: 'Spy talk' from Cohen and Emerson as they run around the back yard

Joining in with Pip.

Taking Stock : May

(Photos from my Instagram account. You can find me at @christinalowrydesigns. Come and say hello!)

Making : A striped knitted baby blanket for a friend
Baking : Banana bread - then thinking I should have made a double batch
Drinking : Loose leaf tea
Reading: 'Love and Summer' William Trevor
Wanting: A garden full of flowers
Looking: At the rainbow lorrikets that come to eat our neighbours flowers
Playing: Lego with the little ones
Deciding: To attend a whole sale or Bridal Fair next year
Wishing: My sister wasn't so far away
Enjoying: Library trips with the little ones
Waiting: For my 'Real Australians Say Welcome' poste
Liking: The #mystillsundaycompetition hashtag pretties
Loving: That my big boy is devouring chapter books.
Pondering: My little boys first birthday.
Considering: What to buy the third child, when they need nothing? 

Thinking: I would like to have his portrait sketched or painted.

Buying: Delightful, pastel, porcelain bird whistles at a market.
Watching: 'Jane Austin and her many lovers' on iview.
Marvelling: A how quickly bubba's first year has flown by.
Missing: The view of the sea and the river we had last week in Yamba.
Needing: More holidays!
Waiting: For more episodes of 'Vikings'
Wearing: A second hand swing coat I brought while we were away.: 
Noticing: How many Myna birds there are now
Getting: New postcards with images from the photo shoot. Can't wait!
Pinning: Linen kitties that make big and little girls swoon. 
Coveting: A group of creative business owners to discuss my business ideas with.
Feeling: Excited about doing the Red Hill Fair on 25th July
Hearing: Three year old Emerson 'reading' to Oscar

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Joining in with Pip.

Taking Stock

Drinking: Lovely big hot cups of tea. I am quite sure tea tastes even better in Winter.

Waiting: With anticipation for the 'Intro to Modern Calligraphy'workshop I shall be doing

Looking: Still baby gazing as a certain 6 week old grows before our eyes

Missing: My twin sister dearly - there is a Fiona shaped hole in our weeks

Grateful: That it's not as cold in Brisbane as it has been in Canberra

Working: On custom orders next week, after a week off the bench following Brisbane Finders Keepers

Dreaming: About hand making spoons and having an exhibition

Wanting: To take a ceramics course once the baby is a little older 

Wondering: About going back to Uni to do my Masters in Jewellery and Small Objects

Enjoying: Sitting on my front deck in the sun

Making: Marks every day (well, nearly everyday)

Liking: My new book, '20 Ways to Draw a Tulip' by Lisa Congdon 

Giggling: Because I am drawing in my sketchbook and not IN the book, like you are supposed to

Excited: About the second book I ordered, '20 ways to draw a tree' by Eloise Renouf

Loving: My new Freida print by Studio Cockatoo

Rearranging: All my collections dotted around the house

Knowing: Sometimes a change is as good as a holiday

Pondering: What to make with all the homegrown oranges and lemons I was lovingly gifted

Reading: The Psychology of Extraordinainess on Dumbo Feather

Pondering: The amount of laundry produced by five people and whether we need a dryer

Marveling: At the amusing things that come out of my five year old's mouth

Wearing: Oscar in a sling - his favourite place to be

Awaiting: The GOMA Winter Design Market next weekend (19th July)

And: The Harvest exhibition at GOMA 

And: Ipswich Gem Show 2nd August 

Admiring: All the Brisbane creatives who are heading to Melbourne for Finders Keepers

Sorting: And culling the toys - my how they accumulate

Buying: A weaving loom to play with

Bookmarking: This weaving tutorial on 'A Beautiful Mess'

Feeling: Mixed emotions about the end of school holidays

Taking Stock

Making : A 9ct Yellow Gold Opal Ring
Cooking : Simple meals at the end of long hot days.
Drinking : Tall glasses of water filled with ice cubes.
Reading: 'The Essence of the Thing' by Madeline St John
Wanting: A self weeding veggie patch.
Looking: At big grey clouds, threatening rain. (Hooray!)
Playing: With my project life album each week. Pics to come soon.
Deciding: What kind of blanket I want to make for this babe.
Wishing: Our friends and neighbours all the very best of their six month trip around Australia.
Enjoying: Homemade ice blocks of blended mango and coconut cream. Yum!
Waiting: To see my dear sister again. I miss her already.
Liking: Overnight oats with frozen berries for breakfast.
Wondering: How Emerson is going to react to her brother going to school each day.
Loving: The feeling of writing in a brand new notebook with a brand new pen.
Pondering: How many lifetimes I would need to be all the things I want to be - interior designer, painter, sculptor, book shop owner, novelist, travel writer...
Considering: All that I want to achieve at home and in my business before the baby arrives.
Watching: Cohen build a cubby from sheets and pillows.
Marvelling: At the hiccups I can feel emanating from the little one in my tummy.
Needing: A little more peace and quiet than I am currently being afforded.
Smelling: Everything! The gift of pregnancy.
Wearing: Fewer and fewer clothes from my wardrobe as my bump gets bigger.
Following: Claire Atkin's 'Make Marks Daily' Project on Instagram @pinkyandmaurice
Noticing: That the best time to hang out laundry in Summer is at night.
Knowing: That my floor needs mopping, but the rest of my house is clean.
Thinking: About applying for Brisbane Finders Keepers market again for November.
Admiring: My new logo design in progress. Can't wait to share it with you.
Sorting: Through the last little pile from a stack of 800 photos, spanning the last two years. My photo albums will soon be full and up to date! (Phew!)
Buying: New notebooks and goldfish
Getting: More chilli shaped capsicums from the garden than we can eat.
Bookmarking: Klimt02 Internation Art Jewellery Online, Thank You Shanna, The Weekend Edition Brisbane, Karina Sharpe, Artisan
Disliking: Bananas in Pajamas (two dense bananas and a rude rat), Blinky Bill (questionable role models indeed), Small Potatoes (enough said)  and Fireman Sam (most annoying voice artists ever)
Opening: Exciting packages.
Giggling: At five year old questions like, "Does the baby have a pillow? Is it wearing a shirt?"
Feeling: Excited and nervous about my first born starting Prep.

Joining in with Pip.