Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Papercut pick up



Look at this amazing papercut I picked up for $3 from the op shop last week. It's all hand cut and signed by 'E.Nowosielski QLD Austrlia'. It makes me so happy.

If you're loving papercuts as much as me at the moment you may also like to check out Elista Mora's incredible blog; 'The Heart of Papercuts'. You'll be blown away.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

St Kilda Mums



There are very few things Ziya receieved as a baby that he still wears/uses to the present day (such as the much loved teddy pictured here) and there are plenty of things that had such a short lifespan (in some cases, sadly...one wear only!)

I still marvel at the amount of clothing a new born baby churns through. I felt like I was sorting out Ziya's clothes draw on a weekly basis the first few months of his life. Now there are the bags of outgrown clothes that seem never ending. While reading through the local Divercity (official Newsletter of Port Phillip) I cam across an article on the 'St Kilda Mums'. They are a network of mother's who work together to collect and sort donations of baby and children's clothing, toys, books and equipment and then redistribute them, via the maternal helth system, to local families in need. I love it! Well done ladies. I have a big bag of goods coming your way.

While on the subject of articles...the lovely Mel, of The Hip Infant, has witten a piece about our trip to the Flinders on her blog. Thanks Mel. Now there's one inspisational woman...4 kids, a thriving business, home renovations, a fitness plan...that she sticks to and endless amounts of energy. Hat's off to you Mel and thank you. x

While you're over at Mel's blog take a look at the entry on Baby Lunchbox. I marveled at this but for completely different reasons. Where do people find the time...?

We've spent the last 3 days in a fitful haze of high temperatures and sleepless nights. Our little man had a bad reaction to the 12 months (yes, we're a little belated) vaccinations. He seems to be on the mend today so I'm keeping everything crossed and praying his temperature stays down and he has a restful midday sleep.

To take the edge off things, we spent the morning flicking through the pages of this gorgeous book, All In A Day, by Cynthia Rylant. The Illustrations are by Nikki McClure, a self taught artist. She has been making paper-cuts since 1996 and each illustration is cut from black paper using an X-Acto knife. She does not erase anything...which means if she makes a mistake, while cutting out the image initailly illustrated, Nikki makes it up as she goes along. If you follow the lines in the illustrations you'll be able to see that each one forms a continuous piece making the paper lace-like as the image appears. Incredible.
It's a simple book with a simple message about living each day and making it count. It's as pleasing for the grown up....(maybe even a little more so)....as it is for the child.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Missing....in the outback.


1. Bath time sml, 2. IMG_6577sml, 3. our companions, 4. truck...WOW, 5. come on in Ella, 6. Taking a stroll wilpena pound, 7. Ziya spotting wildlife sml, 8. Me & Ziya sml, 9. Wiggles watching sml, 10. Ziya & Sheep sml, 11. Flying over Lake Eyre sml, 12. 4 wheel drive sml

Life has been rather busy around here lately, which is why I've just dropped off the face of blogland. A trip to the Fliners Ranges seemed to dominate my time. Organising, making lists, packing, reducing and repacking (still to be 30 kilos over?!). Then came the driving, more driving and still more driving. South Australia is such a stunning state thankfully which made the long hours at the wheel, while 2 toddlers sat in the back watching the Wiggles on their portable DVD player (an absolute must when traveling with kids!), a breeze.

The trip was initiated by my good friend, Sheriden Rhodes, a freelance travel writer. She came up with the idea about 3 months after we'd given birth to our children, Ella & Ziya, (born 23 hours apart. Sheriden & I had met at prenatal classes and discovered we lived 3 doors apart)...so it's not hard to understand why I was a little dubious about the idea of 2 women, 2 babies and a trip to the outback. Blimey, I was still reeling from the whole new born baby whirlwind. The idea of a boot load of nappies, a dusty open road, no local chemist, supermarket or spouse to help soothe a crying baby didn't exactly rouse my enthusiasm.

Almost a year later I was coerced and we were bound for SA's outback. 2 chicks, 2 toddlers, a boot load of nappies ....and an open road.

We had an absolute ball. Amid nappies, bottles, snack supplies, nap times, Wiggles and feeding there was plenty to keep us on the hop. We flew over Lake Eyre in flood. Wow, stunning. What an incredible country we live in. I was awestruck...... However, it was the first time I'd ever been on such a tiny plane, a 4 seater cessna! I was indeed sick (luckily there were a couple of spare sick bags floating around or things could have been quite messy). Our delightful pilot, Nick, reassured me this thing happens 'all the time'...... needless to say after 4 hours of flying I was a little green and wobbly.

Other highlights for me were our night at Rawnsley Park in one of their amazing Eco Villas (I'd highly recommend staying here even if it's just to view the stars from your bed through a remote controlled skylight), a sheering demo, The Prairie Hotel in Parachilna (population 8), our tour of the Leigh creek mine and flying over Lake Eyre and Wilpena Pound, driving through Brachina Gorge and admiring the beautiful sandstone farmhouses sitting amidst lush green fields on the drive from Orroroo to the Clare Valley.

The trip was an amazing adventure with lots of laughs and thanks fully not too many melt downs. The portable DVD was our savior. Second to that the kinderkot was a winner! Ziya happily pops himself in their to sleep wherever we go now...no fuss. It's easy to assemble and folds down into a tiny bag, perfect for traveling (I think everyone should have one).

After 8 days on the go we were all exhausted, utterly and totally. It took us all quite some time to recover. I know I was in bed by 9.30pm every night the following week and Ziya did some record breaking daytime napping. It was an incredible experience and I am so very grateful to Sheriden and Ella for taking Ziya and I along. Thank you, thank you, thank you. xoxox

PS. Sheriden's article featured on the cover of the Sydney Morning Herald Drive section last Friday (Yay Sherry!). You can read a copy over here at Essential Baby.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

My little man



(Thank you Tom & Sherry for the lovely photos!)

My little man turned 1. I can hardly believe it's been a year. Sometimes it feels like yesterday....and then it feels like I've known him forever.
Thanks for a wonderful year my sweet.
My sister-in-law and I spent a day baking and made the cake, Women's Weekly Birthday Book style. Baking's way more meditative than I ever imagined. I really enjoyed the whole process and now see why it is an artform to be revered.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Tessuti....now in Melbourne


Tessuti are opening their first Melbourne store. This is so exciting!!
I just loved the Tessuti store in Surry Hills and spent much time sifting through the rolls of fabric during our stint in Sydney. So it's with great excitement that I await my first visit to their Flinders Lane store, opening this Saturday, 2nd May.

Thank you and welcome Tessuti!!
I'm off on a baby-free, girls weekend to Lorne. We'll be all rugged up reading books, sleeping in, eating and drinking yummy things while all the Dad's play Mr Mom. Heaven...(though, I'm bound to be itching to see the Little Man again by Sunday. I'm already excited about the idea of seeing him again and I haven't even left).

Have a great weekend. xo

Photo courtesy of the Tessuti website.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Miss Woolly made a Book


Congratulation to the lovely Miss Woolly who worked very hard this summer stitching away....to produce this goregous looking book. Take a look for yourself, it's available here at Barnes and Knoble I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Hooray Miss Woolly, well done.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Up for grabs


I'm selling my 1970's dining table. We're all out of room here and it's now time to go to a loving new home.
I can also imagine it as an amazing display table, in an open shop space, with gorgeous polished boards and a tone of natural light.........hopefully somebody else does too.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

with Thanks


This is a Gratitude Wrap (pattern available at Soul Mama) I made as a thank you present for Erin, at Toby's in Potts Point. A little thank you for all of the wonderful smiles and huge 'Good mornings' the little man and I recieved while we were in Sydney.


We potted these succulents last weekend, which we bought at the St Kilda Botanical Gradens and look out on the each morning when we open our blind. It's amazing the difference a few plants can make to your day.
We're now making plans for our vegie patch which we anticpate having completed towards the end of April. It'll be a big planter box full of delicious fresh vegies for winter stews. Any recommendations for planting will be greatly appreciated.

PS. at the moment I'm loving this blog, Orangette.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009


The boxes are finally all unpacked and we're settling back into life in Melbourne. I'm even getting through this pile of books and lo and behold....the quilt is coming along. I'm taking great pleasure in hand stitching it together once litlle Ziya is tucked up in bed at night. Pictures to come...... so stay tuned.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Finito



Finally, I have finished Ziya's cross stitch.
Some of you may remember it from these previous posts (If not, you can take a peek over at flickr 1, 2,3 & 4). I was starting to worry that I'd still be dilly dallying around with this come his first birthday. I worried so much that I peeled myself up in the wee hours of the morning to finish it off a couple of nights ago. It's such a great feeling to complete a piece like this, especially seeing that it's been waiting ever so patiently........... for way too long.
Now for the framing!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Missing in Action ....


Ziya's new bedside table and spinning toy bought on a recent trip to Newcastle.

I'm sorry for dropping off like that. I just vanished into the craziness of the last couple of months. To-ing and fro-ing between Sydney, Melbourne, Lorne, Newcastle, Pearl Beach and The Blue Mountains. Each time I returned home it was enough just to regroup, relax, sort out the endless amount of washing and repack. Alas, there was no time for craft. I'm totally out of touch with what's been happening with all the crafting peeps out there.
We've been making the most of our last weeks in Sydney and ticking off all the places we listed as 'must do's' before our return to Melbourne at the end of February. While we pack up here and head home posts could still be a little few and far between but I'm looking forward to picking up blogging momentum once we return.

Given the recent bushfires in Victoria and the enorminty of loss that has occured there I think it's wonderful the Craft Blogging Community are banding together to help the people of Victoria rebuild their lives with hand made treasures a plenty.
Head on over to:
The Toy Society who are asking for people to make and donate toys for children in effected araes and
Meet Me at Mikes who have a full listing of crafty way to get involved and help out.