Wednesday, May 30, 2012

feeling sew sew

Sewing!  It has been happening, amongst the usual daily whirlwind of laundry, school readers, cross countries, finding the right socks (“no, they don’t necessarily have to match”), laundry, school runs, piano lessons, laundry, making dinner…and of course the laundry.  Can’t wait for both my boys to be on school holidays next week!

Car wallets:

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Crayon wallets.  I haven’t made these for quite a while, so it was lovely to receive an order for a couple, using some of my scrumptious fabric from the craft fair.

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Tea wallets.  Always love making these!  I adore the one with the red and white spots on the back, I want to keep it despite the fact I don’t actually drink tea (I know, the irony…).

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Now I’m busy with some birthday banners (you can see one of them in my birthday post), reversible bibs and some more car wallets.

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Sunday, May 27, 2012

books and a birthday

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Yesterday I turned 29, and was spoilt by everyone!
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We had a little op-shopping trip in the morning, and my favourite buys were these gorgeous little novels…
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They are so sweet!  Only about 15cm tall, and all for $1!  I also found some lovely vintage pillowcases, so standby for something made from those soon (one of them is begging to be a skirt, but I’m pretending not to hear it because I already have enough skirts to wear a different one each day for the rest of the year…almost).
The boys and I love vintage picture books, and the ones above have lovely illustrations to go with their beautiful covers.  The colours are somehow so different to modern books.
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“That’s it!” everybody cried.  “We’ll ask the hedgehogs...”
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This one in the middle below is one of my favourite books, ‘A Hole is to Dig’ by Maurice Sendak, with illustrations by Ruth Krauss.  Almost every page has something that makes me laugh or smile!
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These are a couple of my favourite pages.
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(There hasn’t been much sewing action around here lately, has there?!  Despite appearances, lots has been happening in the sewing room…tea wallets, crayon wallets, car wallets, birthday banners and lots more yummy stuff.  Hope to show soon!)

Thursday, May 24, 2012

sunshine on a grey day

There are so many things I love about rainy days…hearing the rain on the roof, splashing through puddles in my stripy gumboots, sharing my big spotty umbrella with my boys (or umba-rumba, as it’s known around here!), and watching as the world seems to be washed clean, just for a little while. 

But sometimes the grey clouds and mud mud mud has me missing the warmth and colour of the other seasons…

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‘This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it…’

Psalm  118:24

Saturday, May 19, 2012

in the garden

We spent every spare minute in the garden this weekend…so glad the sun was out!  It was cold, but we soon warmed up, some of us by digging and pushing the wheelbarrow and raking piles and piles of dirt, and some of us by hooning down the driveway on small plastic toys at breakneck speeds. 

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Despite it being nearly winter, there are still tiny pockets of colour around…

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Is it the right time to plant peas, or is it too early?  I’m thinking broadbeans might have been better.  We dug over some green beans that popped up after we pulled out the summer vegie garden, and poked peas into our fluffy new soil.  We had lots of lovely pumpkins this year (although none of the right sort or size to challenge anyone at the Pimp your Pumpkin Competition!).  Pumpkin soup!

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Hope your weekend was full of sunshine too!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

happy mother’s day!

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I hope all the mothers have had a super-special mother’s day today!  We’ve had a lovely restful day; well, the 6am start possibly couldn’t be described as ‘restful’…but all the sweet handmade gifts that accompanied it certainly helped!

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A picture of me by Jasper (this is what I look like when I’m woken at 6am, hah!)

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A fabulously colourful pasta necklace and a painted tile, also by Jasper.  The gorgeous handprint bird card up the top, and the paper mosaic candle holder by Toby completed my little mountain of gifts!

We had a beautiful clear autumn day today – bright sunshine and a really cold breeze, just perfect for a play in the autumn leaves!

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We even found some green shoots poking their way up past the autumn leaves.  We’ll have to come back again later to see what blooms…

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In between the gifts and the play in the park, we read the following passage at church this morning:

“A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honour her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

Proverbs 31:10-31

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Strength, generosity, empathy, willingness to work, dignity, humour, wisdom, faith…the picture of the wife and mother given in Proverbs 31 is an amazing one!  There is so much in these verses, but I particularly love the emphasis on mothers working “with eager hands” to support their families.  Mothers’ work can be hard, tedious, and unrelenting.  It can feel like all the time and effort you expend to keep the family functioning goes unnoticed and unrewarded.  But even if it feels like this ‘in the moment’, your faithfulness and care is valued immeasurably and results in outcomes far beyond what can be seen now.  I know my mother’s heartfelt prayers and unwavering support have been instrumental in making me the mother, the wife, the woman I am today.  I am so grateful for her faith and her eagerness to pass her love for God on to me and my little family.  We love you, Mum!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Under the Oak

We took a sunny trip to Ulverstone (through all the Agfest traffic!) on Saturday to drop off some goodies at Under the Oak.  Run by the lovely Prue, Under the Oak is a beautiful shop dedicated to celebrating, encouraging and supporting the talents of a wide array of Tasmanian designers – you can find everything from children’s wear and toys, jewellery, candles, home decor items, bags, papercraft…the list goes on!

We took through some reversible pants and bibs…

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…and some tea wallets (great for that last minute Mother’s Day gift!) and sandwich wraps.

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I don’t get to visit Under the Oak as often as I’d like to, but it’s such a welcoming shop to be in I never want to leave!  It is always full of the gorgeous scent of candles and there are just so many fabulous handmade goodies to look at. 

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You can pop in and see for yourself at 113a Reibey Street, Ulverstone (open Tuesday to Saturday) – I know Prue would love to see you there!

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