SpectacularFairyWren

new and old

2012-02-02T14:24:00.003+08:00

About as patriotic as I gets - spending Australia Day on the beach with a pack of masters swimmers volunteers, handing out melon to young bodies who'd finished their 2kms in the ocean...

first days:

For boo:

wow

2012-01-27T20:18:00.002+08:00

big brown dog

2012-01-05T15:02:00.004+08:00

It's here... We're home! It's..... OAKY DAY! oh and happy new year and all that and all the rest.

Aside from 'lets just catch a chook-chook' (that is tuk-tuk) Rex was whiningly lovingly missing his brown dog all throughout our adventures in Vietnam and Cambodia. We felt awkwardly modern day royalty in Siem Reap, then amazed at development in Saigon three years since last visit. Get yourselves there. Eat pho. Drink your beer with ice...

Bern danced and smiled and heyyoo'd his way into the hearts of the locals and particularly the Korean granny age tourists...

check it

2011-12-09T22:19:00.001+08:00

Traffic in Frenetic HCMC, Vietnam from Rob Whitworth on Vimeo.

gorgeous!

snap

2011-11-27T21:16:00.002+08:00

some snaps

The last two photos are a revisit to Saigon from 3 years ago, and a LOOKY LOOKY where we're going soon!

looky here

2011-11-17T11:34:00.001+08:00

this was something i received from a swap, my first! I love it.

oh how they grow...

2011-10-21T15:30:00.002+08:00

I'm back at work - can't you tell. Paid, lovely, paid work, without lovely childrens. I've become one of those people who wistfully gaze at their offsprings' photos and artwork on the wall of the office - ok cubicle... and delight in engaging unsuspecting worky type people in the intricacies of being 4...

Found this baby on the road in kerbside clearout version 2011.2 - love it?

I think that posting will become a once in a blue moon luxury. sorry and thanks

for baby Amos...

2011-08-11T14:23:00.003+08:00

a brown and yellow stripshow for a baby to be.... i have named him Amos....
i loved this 'quilt as you go' number.... the three week pause between finishing the top and getting scared by the quilting was notsomucha problemo!

my model

2011-08-08T13:11:00.002+08:00

quickly went from this

to this

to this...

(what was i thinking?!)

but which way is up?

2011-08-06T20:14:00.001+08:00

so very too much happening here.
seems to be a flurry of teeth and drool, weaning and rejected food and jobs and odd jobs and birthday frenzy...

will be right back when the room stops spinning!

three months laterrrrr

2011-07-19T19:05:00.005+08:00

finished:

I have been adding progress reports to 'Our Creative Spaces' and although this was finished a week ago, felt I should show it to you - thanks for demanding it, you are way more interested than the real world....

Oh the details: Started with this barkcloth... Settled on this pattern from Kate, then added some stuff according to this little colour whip-up... An old tablecloth was sacrificed, and all ended up being bound in Heather Ross guitars, as that arrived at the right time?! All in all, a very imperfect but much cherished little first quilt from me!

us

2011-07-16T13:28:00.002+08:00

daytripping...

Went to see Erth puppeteers at wa museum... highly recommend for dino freaks...

the quilt is so very very close. reveal soon.

Baby gets cheeky creative

2011-07-14T16:15:00.003+08:00

attempted passport photos taken for little one yesterday. Anyone who has been through this would recommend sedation... for everyone...
no smiles
No open mouth
no expression
eyes open
eyes forward

these are some from the reject pile that i am having some fun with...

(i love the reject pile!)

creative juices here

oh and finished off a milo vest for he:

creative scrappy bits

2011-07-07T11:53:00.001+08:00

my first ever quilting non-masterpiece will have three square and one rounded corner, thanks to the wonders of my crafting prowess... (this was anything but a planned execution).

These are the offcuts

Here for more wondrous of craftiness

my creative space (is a bit of a shambles)

2011-06-30T11:56:00.002+08:00

sewed up (sorry pause, just heard the black cockies overhead and raced out - god i love those birds), some cushion covers for my cousin helen and mark's holiday house in North Beach, and got so excited about my speediness, that I sewed one of the backy bits on the wrong way, inside out. Never one to unpick, i decided to embellish the back with a bit more wonk, on something from here. She will TOTALLY get it.

more ordered and civil things here

cuteness

2011-06-29T22:01:00.001+08:00

cuteness, originally uploaded by specwren.

big and little

2011-06-28T22:11:00.001+08:00

big and little, originally uploaded by specwren.

pants for little legses

2011-06-28T22:09:00.001+08:00

pants for little legses, originally uploaded by specwren.

my creative juices

2011-06-23T11:37:00.002+08:00

are a bit ~~overfloweth~~ overwhelmed.

In the kitchen, we are eating clean, so $13 bananas from Carnavon are AOK.

Please note chalkboarded jars (we eat a lot o cherries here)

In the other department, I am finishing off a quilt from Kate's pattern, and starting one from this pattern, and have some new implements...

sort of a bit not very here

2011-06-20T14:39:00.002+08:00

am a bit absent at the moment. No apologies.
a few snaps to keep you bemused...

sweet holidays

2011-05-30T13:24:00.002+08:00

We've made our way home from North Beach and enjoyed a little time away. A photo or two from our travels:

Rex feeds the mini horses - the foal - 3 months old and so delicious!

Mum's collection of animals on the front verandah at the holiday house...

Baby's first carrot

Shoal Bay from Tomaree - a family's memento at the top, and the boys...

Spent a day at home in Newcastle, and fulfilled our pining for the baths

Another shack at North Beach - complete with a zoo in the front yard

Mine kelp creation - thanks H&M, T&H for your home for the week!

chop chop sewy - creative space

2011-05-12T08:45:00.000+08:00

it just goes on and on - have been chopping and sewing and irONing my little guts out... Honestly can't believe I have managed to get this far.
Ready for a bit more chop sewy when we get back from 2 weeks eastcoasting. Hello Nelson Bay, Hello Mylestom!

More creativity at this new home here: Big warm thanks and understanding to Kirsty for hosting this at her place and now it has its own little wings!

i made these

2011-05-06T12:05:00.000+08:00

my creative muddle

2011-05-05T11:25:00.002+08:00

oh woe is me.. This here is my pile of brain strain (and stay awake at nightedness):

becoming a quilt thanks to this lovely lady. More ideas here:

and this is my creation for the staffy who eats shop-bought toys in an instant:

certainly more creativity at another address today.

holiday flea market finds

2011-05-01T11:42:00.004+08:00

On Anzac day afternoon, i took a quick stroll in the rain, with a stroller, to try to woo a wee one off to sleep. It didn't work, but I found a local oppy in Augusta WA (red cross) that was chock to loaded with good things...

Bought two by dinosaur kits for the wet weekend, which led to an inevitable dinosaur off.

And these lovelies: all for $17

2 x matching doona covers
1 x pillowcase
1 x large coloured doily
3 x gorgy blue linen placemats
1 x big wildflower tablecloth
2 x fabuloso made in Korea coffee mugs - have made it to the front of the pile and are in constant use!
please note my aversion to anything remotely ironed, neat and orderly.

Other easter week finds here

holidays

2011-05-01T11:22:00.002+08:00

We had a quick break in Augusta with loadsa boys...

Mostly we fanged around in the half rain, visited the Leeuwin lighthouse and made di'saurs...

Easter at home involved lots of jumping to wear off rabbits eaten at 7am, note clouds in the sky - this is amASZing for us, and some stacking o' the firewood.

vintage sheet swap - exhale

2011-04-19T12:03:00.003+08:00

oh my goodness. I do not relish the task of poor lady green tea and nails for the vintage sheet swap.

My FQ's are washed, ironed (!!!), snipped and ripped, folded (thanks kirsty), stacked, wrapped, packed and soon en route to queensland...

Would love to be on the end of all of those parcels... Until I had to organise and send them all on their merry way again... Thanks Kellie.

And this one i cannot help but share. Oh that bottom...

the incredibles

2011-04-18T14:05:00.001+08:00

right here

flea market finds

2011-04-18T13:42:00.002+08:00

Spent a glorious few hours shopping and chatting and looking and asking, and wishing, at the perth antique and collectors fair on Saturday...

Blew cash on these two items:

a piece of barkcloth, now all matchyd up with some colour inspirations, trying to work out how to become a bedspread....(dare i say quilt??)

and these fabbo roadside safety lights direct from the uk - they seem to have at least 3 coasts of paint (red, yellow and the now green) have gorgeous inlaid red glass, and they are waiting for a party...

Lucky in love with these at the local oppy for 99c each last week:

More finds here:

bark bark bark

2011-04-16T22:43:00.001+08:00

was all excited about the coming of winter, with snuggy warms onto beds:
then it topped 30 again...

but got all excited today when i found this:

our creative CHAIRS - before, during & after

2011-04-07T15:43:00.003+08:00

So, these chairs came from Coota, and just LOOK AT THEM NOW!

bEFORE

dURING: the puzzlement

aFTERS

Without my Dad, these would have weathered another 50 years, now they are just my kind of matchy-matchy... Upholstered with echino oilcloth from purl soho, stained in Black Japan then glossed, and wrangled back together with pursed lips, sweat and tears (surprisingly no blood!).
(repeat after me, i will never try to refurb chairs to a deadline again...)

creative juices here

drill, sand, stain, glue, twitch, breathe...

2011-04-05T11:28:00.001+08:00

Been busy with Dad...

my creative space

2011-03-30T23:03:00.004+08:00

This week doing some new things. Toy & costume hat.

His name is either Max, Buddy or Dinosaur and since these photos has been doodled upon...

Tried a pattern from this book (love love) in order to make some proper monsters for donation to Small Joys for Japan. Mixed him up a bit with a quilted old belly and all. Can't stop seeing this chevron justabout everywheres. Drop toys into Calico & Ivy before end April for these little ones to wing it across the pacific. Here is my pile o cord for the others... Never quite like doing multiples but am ~~keen~~ motivated this time.

I used pins TWICE this week (this is like a record for me and a 'never do again' type affair... and made a pirate hat. Refusing to pay for a plasticy shop one, I got as far as adding some bling before this one was 'headed'. The requisite skullington is not yet added but may be if it comes off of his skull. Recommend a thicker felt from B&M, as there appears to be some droop.

I have taken lots of process photos if anyone is keen for a tute of sorts.

Oh and I made something else, the spare bed in the spare room, cause my dad is coming to stay!

Turn to this page for more stuff that is more wonderful.

these ordinary days

2011-03-29T13:50:00.005+08:00

our very ordinary days are pretty special, pretty ordinary, and I try to enjoy each one. Mundane. Boring sometimes, humourous often. I know I will miss them when they are no longer so simple, but sometimes god are they an effort! Here are a few photos.

Brown:

(photo above, testing stain "Black Japan' on a piece of the old oak chairs... turns out it is more black then brown no surprise there...

and always always animals:

'he's a good crottodile'

My stool...

2011-03-24T16:31:00.002+08:00

Got all Finnish-flag inspired on the second spray-job of my new 'helper' stools.

Aside from that, am persisting with the chairs (see last week) and have taken all o yo comments on board. Congrats to Cat on her Nihhonjin win - posted!

To here for more:

i brown owled..

2011-03-19T20:04:00.003+08:00

today - it was lovely.

There were ladies, tea, muffins, and allsorts around the table. If you are in Perth and you are a bit keen, lookup these two ladies:

summer, still.

2011-03-18T21:34:00.000+08:00

creative space: a little nihhonjin giveaway

2011-03-15T12:03:00.011+08:00

Give-away away down below - you have to read all my novel first.

This dining table and chairs has come to our family from Rich's grandparents. The old (OLD!) green vinyl had seen some better days, and I thought I could do a number on it. So I was very very very excited to find something a little more exciting to sit on! This one was a prototype to see how it all went. Aok!
Before:

After:

Step by step went a bit like this:
1. Take screws out of old seat pad, and unassemble it from chair frame.
2. Attempt to remove old vinyl and tacks.

3. Find charming wadding of yesteryear, fight with tacks then proceed to give up and let them stay.
4. Decide to add some modern wadding to make it a little more comfy on the bot
5. Let fly with my new toy - how fun is a staple gun! I was never very good at hospital corners - I do remember learning at brownies.

6. Reassemble seat pad onto seat frame
7. Rejoice!

My dad is coming over to Perth in a fortnight - he is going to help me repair the chair frames (he is a man of dowel and glue and clamps and sheet-metal and araldite!).

My straw poll: Do I recuperate the stained timber for the chairs or do I paint? Please comment - I need an opinion or three to convince me
I was thinking something along these lines: to go with the spotty dots. Or something else? Red?

I have made a little 'thinking of you Japan' prize - this will ALL be yours, if you are the lucky number outta the hat. All you have to do is let me know what I should do to the chair frames... timber/paint...? Hmmm

(this fabric is a piece of antique silk I bought while I was there. One of you crafty whizkids will do it more justice than I can. And warning... this was my first EVER zipper). Drawn on Sunday night. Anyone in our world can enter. Each person's comment is $1 from me to Red Cross for Japan.

Creative Spaces a-plenty at Kootoyoo.

so many tragedies

2011-03-14T20:03:00.002+08:00

When the cathedral in Christchurch was lost, it felt a bit personal, having been there on a holiday... Nothing compared to those who live and love people there.

This time, I am horrified. Gobsmacked, distraught, and shocked - so graphic. We visitied Sendai & Matsushima in December 2006 on our honeymoon. The photos of NOW are absolutely UNWORLDLY - here are some photos from then, it was beautiful. I want to remember that. We are thinking of you. Please let the world settle down sometime soon.

Donate money here. Take a trip to Japan sometime. They will need to recover their economy which was already so fragile recently.

port city of Matsushima, 20km north of Sendai - spectacular

birds that now look a bit dark - is this why i took this photo?

Another train & Rich

Everything is a bit special in Japan

My favourite photo. An animal loving nation.

Thoughts and prayers

flea market finds

2011-03-13T22:51:00.002+08:00

these two from my latest trawl...

A tablecloth: got to love those puppies

and a pillowcase: handmade from an old sheet, it is a bit torn and has 'ties' on the end, but is so soft and crunchy at the same time. You know what I mean.

Also found myself a box of girls huggies nappies for $3.99 so let it be known my son is wearing pink undies!

i did one!

2011-03-13T21:45:00.002+08:00

I committed to doing my first open water swim in 2011. Way back then, 3 months ago, I'd had a Bernie only a few weeks before, and thought it would happen when it warmed up for 2011/2012 summer swim season.

But I did it today!

Here tis the evidence:

Yes you may notice that Cameron Antonio aged 10-14years wooped my ass - but I made the distance, stopped only once to clear the goggs, and ran across the finish line to make it in 16 minutes!

so so so stoked. And looking forward to a couple more before the end of season!

(you may also notice that I was competitor 45 (out of 573) and I came 43rd in my group. I need to avenge this meet with some seriously even numbers, I hate odd!)

sigh

2011-03-12T13:33:00.001+08:00

creative space - doodle pouch

2011-03-10T22:48:00.005+08:00

have got this idea that 50 flashcards won't be strewn around the house if they have their own very special oilcloth home... sure, a plastic ziplock bag may have made the same impression, but blah blah..

A quick idea via here, and then heads down.

15 minutes later...
this

a cookie monster and all sorts of 'quiet, this is a serious cafe and serious grown-ups drink serious coffee here so shush' may almost be successful.

i am always up for an 'instant-distracto!' My friend Sal, has a 'restaurant box' filled with all those wonderful things that you tend to collect from kids party bags: honkers, clickers, balloons, cars, anything for 5 minutes and a flat white....

Expect to see a few more of these doodle pouches, any improvement ideas for me on the crafting? forget any grandiose ideas of straight lines, i could never walk one, so will never ever sew one to be sure, but anything else appreciated?

and no, I haven't seen the monster doodle. but i wanna.

here for more and more and more

ohhh michael.

2011-03-06T07:25:00.001+08:00

he crooned.
we swooned.

photos only

2011-03-04T14:25:00.002+08:00

creative space - click

2011-03-03T21:12:00.003+08:00

i am creating up a make-believe bat world. My mid-evening was spent as Robin, ironic really, since I am Robyn in my everyday life. Being Robin involves inflicting a bit of KAPOW! around the backyard, and even the front yard.

Here is my Robin costume:

Here is my faithful sidekick: suitably ho-hum about the kapowing.

Now that batman has been bedded, i am playing new toys...

Play along with Kirsty here.

Cryptogams: moss, lichen, hornworts and fungi

2011-03-02T20:22:00.004+08:00

Loved these moss covered bricks, and lichened sticks on Design Sponge, and remembered me a whole chapter of my life past.

From here: D*S

Met this gorgeous moss in WA just last autumn

Something you likely didn't know about me: I spent a good eight months working on my thesis topic with moss, lichen and other cryptogams in the western districts of NSW. I have a paper published in the journal of arid environments, whose title mentions among other things, soil & rabbits. I am so very, very proud....

My fave Grand Design, 'Isle of Wight Treehouse' was set to feature moss-covered walls, until their little experiment went slow-go.

If you are similarly enamoured with all things cryptogammic (plants that reproduce by spores like mosses, lichens, and hornworts) check this out to identify the little ones in your backyard.

snoopin

2011-03-02T17:04:00.006+08:00

Love to snoop into other people's lifers. Thanks for this game Kirsty!

On snooping: This is why I like to walk in suburbia after dark (windows open, lights on and lives being lived), not quite like this weirdo though - jesus! behind the bedroom door - nightmares! Back to my snooping: This is why I love an open house, this is why I love to look at a copy of inside out, and often, I put myself to sleep by running 'a scenario' that involves mostly domesticity, timelines & floor plans. This is your chance to snoop on me on wednesday.

I am playing along with a realtime unedited 'myspace' - the map table (1), my computer, the gymnastics timetable (2), my sunnies (oft losed), a list of 'things to do' (3), a wrapper from poppers which has me winning an apple macbook (4&5), a busted camera, a baby watching on (6).

about me:
1) i just love a map. I always always know north and can navigate with the best of them.
2) Rex is loving trampolining - i am thinking we'll take him pro - took him to gym this morning and he was all overcome with the foam pit - and yes, they smell the same in 2011 as they did in the 80s and 90s
3) i always have a list or two running - very rarely cross off though
4) love a competition - never won one but keep trying. I tend to run a weekly 'lotto' scenario, ticket purchased or not.
5) i have gadget covetousness
6) he is front and centre if not front and centre
7) ooh - edited to let you know, i like ice in my wine in the summer. Not evident here at 4pm but yes at 6.15pm

way cool

2011-02-28T23:03:00.000+08:00

New School Hoban Press from DonVintage on Vimeo.

what ?

2011-02-28T22:40:00.001+08:00

Please explain? from here

my creative space

2011-02-23T22:26:00.002+08:00

the present making continues...

This one to say big THANKS for christmassing us Ros and Kingsley. This started out being a B&W project but the green just won't stay away!

Was so excited to be able to do this in one sitting/standing/sitting/j.c. am I iRonInG@@$!?/sitting etc.

Next stop: pyjamas... (is this dangerously close to makeyourown underwear)

Click here to go to Kootoyoo for some talented stuff from other person's.

live beside the sea-side

2011-02-22T08:44:00.002+08:00

We are lucky enough to live near a WA fisheries dept research centre - amongst other things, they are learning how to breed & rear octopus for seafood trade & everything there is to know about the western rock lobster. If you are tourist in WA, make sure you check this place out, at the other end of the harbour from AQWA at Hillary's.

This boy is now slightly obsessed with the lobsters:

They have a great set of tails to wear:

Who would have thought that SLED was an acronym in common usage:

The beach is an every-weekend event for us. A bit of a juggle with a tiny one but we are learning to love the featureless WA beaches, at least the swimming part. Golly we miss Newie though...

On another local note, we are lucky to live near a little vietnam precinct. Saw this sign last time I was shopping for fish sauce:

love our neighbourhood

And the who's who from WA:

Back to rock lobsters: this was the first song i remember LOOOOVING:

my cushy creative space

2011-02-17T12:01:00.003+08:00

making making making - all in the name of the list of names and gifts on my project list! Am trying to do the 'on the horizon' birthdays and thankyou's before making a dint on the ones already past (sorry, you ALL know who you are... you miserable lot)

So this week (avert your eyes if you live on Robert St) is the cush... Made for lounging on floor and daybed as the sun goes down, this little number has wounded me both in fingertips and in spirit...

Made a matchy matchy set of little coasters to boot and they are soon to be zipping happily off to NSW and their new home. Happy birthday if you are listening my Mo (that is not mother btw) but NICK OFF - Auspost will have it to you v soon (or later). Patience woman!

ALso - started on some superheroes of our own, trying to avoid any more superman, batman, spiderman, ben10 idealism. Do you think this lovely lady's GOODIES and BADDIES will match it? buckley's right?

More craftiness at here:

comparing your offsprings

2011-02-12T22:58:00.002+08:00

not in a 'who's my favourite?' kind of a way, but more a 'do they look at all alike?' line of questioning. What do you think at 9 weeks apiece?

(please disregard flagrant neglect of safety-strap - at least i am consistent)

flea market finds

2011-02-12T22:44:00.002+08:00

a 'replacement' this week: one of my favourite meakin pudding dishes was smashed with a jelly and ice-cream load on board. Aren't I lucky that I found a set of four this week, replete with salty themes - reminded me of this lovely lady!

Same op (only get to do one) found some material, an old bedcover and a vase/carafe which I am a-loving.

Play along with flea-market-finding at Sophie's place.

my super creative space in green

2011-02-09T21:43:00.003+08:00

There has been a lean, green project here... now it is wrapped and on the way (Tan, make like you haven't seen this when miss 3 rips it open) I am keen to show you. Used and loved this pattern from here. (please note: it did not include or have instructions for wonk)

Also, have been learning to cro-shay... I can't.

More green from this week from something I made a few years ago (but keep making each and every day):

(excuse the "benwho" paraphenalia... - it is green, but this shot is ALL about the blue).

blue george

2011-02-08T22:02:00.005+08:00

Green George came from Luang Prabang in 2008. He's been looking for love ever since and this week, Blue George has landed from Hanoi!! Thanks to D&C for lugging him home. He is lovely.

We play. It is fun.

Bernie prefers karate:

t

But has a new pair o pants (tutu?) from Laos:

conquering the world...

2011-02-08T17:21:00.002+08:00

At the moment, I am celebrating small victories. Last week I felt like I was a superhero because I made a lasagne STRAIGHT, I mean without an interuption, no feeding, no settling, no nuthin except cooking for a good hour. And that was worth celebrating. Hmm. Another self-award for going grocery shopping with two kids, no tantrums, no threats, no bribery.. Yay me. Big hands together for making it to swimming on time, not forgetting anything, no car travel catastrophes. Wooot!

On kids in cars, I loved this: this is NOT my child, but so could be...

they like to:

2011-01-27T20:21:00.001+08:00

make:

bounce:

lovely

2011-01-24T10:04:00.001+08:00

He sleeps:

flea market finds

2011-01-23T16:26:00.002+08:00

Found these chairs x 3

seats and backs are original laminate in beautiful aqua (describe this colour to me in original 50's term pls) with chromed legs. Very rusted and pitted, but have sanded one back and still blemished but lovely and smooth... Laminate (name?) also has a little bit of water damage in the back ply sections - am thinking of stripping one layer and repainting? Ideas pls?

And this old trolley is going strong. Won't be used for the market run, is hiding in amongst soft toys at the moment:

Play along with your flea market finds again in 2011 here:

chalkboard ... jars

2011-01-21T14:19:00.002+08:00

Having a blah week this week - not much doing. Camera is broken, anyone wishing to donate a DSLR to the cause is welcome, however i think there are other people more desperate than me...

So, I am NOT capturing this project in images this week. You'll have to imagine the 15 glass jars and their lids stacked up, masking-taped and waiting for a lick of chalkboard paint.

While procrastinating, I found this link and fell in love:

What other chalkboard ideas do you have?

bernie smiles

2011-01-17T10:24:00.001+08:00

sorta...

get fresh

2011-01-08T14:00:00.003+08:00

We spend some time 'hunting and gathering' at our local fruit market each weekend. This week's haul and my mood made me stop and click, it was so bountiful and summery and yummery.

Most of the stalls are run by chinese or vietnamese families, and they all had their bets on for what colour baby. "I think boy" etc with much hands laying on... Rex particularly likes getting a prize from one lady, who silently and secretly hands him a treasured kiwifruit as we leave her stall...

Question: Do you do 'Two and Five'? Have concluded mine is more like "Five and Two"

Please note the big bag of breadcrumbs $1.30 for about a half cubic metre... That should have us in fishcakes for a week or 11. The bag was inflated when I bought it, and I thought there may be a goldfish in there.

good MORNing

2011-01-07T12:32:00.001+08:00

all sunshine and loveliness:

breakfast battles...

2011-01-06T14:33:00.006+08:00

There is a lot to be said for a happy healthy breakfast.

We have been having 'breakfast wars' on and off at our place for a year or three. This week we're trying to put our collective hooves down to stomp out crying for toast/weetbix/something else. So far no good.

(Rex at 7 weeks ... at breakfast)

I happened upon this recipe (thanks Nigella) in my early-morning-feeds-make-a-me hungry, and decided it would be a delicious start to the day. Also thought it was a place to use up some wicked closet corn syrup, so that i might eat less waffles.

So here is the start of it:

Yum-ola!

I did a bit of substitution - used almonds and cashews vs raw peanuts and used a wee bit more coconut, less sugar, no oil because I forgot it... do what you like i think? Whoever thought of baking muesli - sorry GRA-NOLA Nigella - with APPLESAUCE... (chase this last link for the best little aussie christmas tale pictured here...

Here is a shot of my two lovely boys at bath-time (much happier than breakfast) - and one of the sleeping bear so that you can all see how easy-peasy lovely he is.

Plenty more breakfast battles to come I think... We may be fighting over the last serve of 'cocc-late muesli' tomorrow.

Gday 2011 - let's have fun

2011-01-01T09:52:00.004+08:00

Happy new year to everybody.
Asleep before midnight.... Check.
Forget it's a new year in the morning.... Check
Resolutions concocted on a whim.... Check

1. Less fun police, more fun.
2. Enjoy the tiny one while it lasts.
3. Put 'the plan' onto paper and sign. In blood.
4. Take more photos.
5. Save money for what i'd really like. DSLR.
6. Make more gifts.
7. Plan dinners.
8. Swim my first ocean swim.
9. Execute an 'idea' that has been a brewing...
10. Read more and waste time less.

Have started on #10 by reserving some of YOUR favourites from my local library... Nothing like a recommendation to get me excited. On my list "A prayer for owen meaney" and "Brideshead Revisited"...

Hoping you have a great year too.

rose of the west

2010-12-31T11:53:00.003+08:00

I have found out what who she is.

(pic from http://www.malleenativeplants.com.au/eucalyptus-macrocarpa-mottlecah/)

Eucalyptus macrocarpa (Mottlecah or Rose of the West) is the best looking australian native I have seen. Ever. I found some gumnuts (the caps actually) underneath a local plant in North Beach here in Perth and have been on the hunt since. I think I might get me one in a pot?

Bathtime Bernie!

2010-12-30T09:56:00.002+08:00

Here are a couple of photos - you'll see he is getting a big round tummy which is perfectly lovely!

we'll go dancing in the dark, walking in the park and REMINISCING

2010-12-18T12:41:00.002+08:00

Friday curlypops is hosting a 'remember when' ~~daggy~~ groovy old photos are scanned and posted...
Me (little big one) and big brother Geoff and Grandma Hilda: how much do we love Hilda's dress and the abundance of 'mission brown' paint? No-one mention my thighs.

My first birthday (July 77): loving the from behind pigtails on cousin 'Hullun'.

On holidays at Urunga: favourite terry towelling shorts and short hair. Checkout my mum's jumpsuit in teal....

First day of school: Narranga Primary in Coffs Harbour. On Fridays we had a special 'Narranga Sandwich' day at the tuckshop. It involved a banana (being Coffs Harbour) in brown bread, to MATCH OUR SCHOOL UNIFORM!!! I loved that port but especially that groovy sticker from a surfboard designer... i wonder if it is in the roof back at home...?

Play along and dig out some treasures.

Bernie's here....

2010-12-14T12:22:00.002+08:00

Last week, a pretty wonderful thing happened...

Bernie arrived!
He was born on Thursday 9th Dec, and is all happy and healthy and hand-eating.

He is lovely.
We are smitten.

Me and the bear came home today.

And my big boy can do THIS while i was outta town..

In the words of the chief - This blog will now self destruct and become an ode to small and smallish people. Some creativity may return in the new year...

Wishing you a lovely christmas with your folk. Eat, drink and be merry!

flea market find NOW smells like christmas...

2010-12-06T11:33:00.002+08:00

FOund this gorgeous glass butter box at my local Salvo's this week. Please note - the neatest BIG thrifty i have ever stepped foot in at Greenwood in WA. Cost $4. I have another, lidless, which doubles as my coffee machine bits box.

This one was hiding under a cover of ants... orange cordial + rain perhaps? It is now our 'SMells like Christmas' box...

Recipe for a pretty lovely scent:
- Some gumnuts (these from the park nearby - these are just the caps!!) Still have not taxonomied if someone can help with that...
- Some dried out spices: I used cinnamon quills, star anise (fave) and nutmegs.
- Some whole nuts perhaps

Other finds here this week.
And join in with this wicked giveaway here at Shabby Vintage Junk for her 100th post. BEAUTIFUL old glass ornaments to be gifted to someone lucky.

a quick and dirty snowflake ornament tute....

2010-12-03T12:04:00.004+08:00

A tute... from ME!!! Those who know me well know i like it quick and dirty.

This is not a 'how to sew a ...." tute, more an idea generator for a spare hour... Since there is nooo way I should be teaching anyone anything about stitching. While I was whipping these up yesterday, the machine broke a needle. The loose end went missing down into bobbin zone and here is my learning. It is a good idea to have a magnet handy in your sewing kit... I managed to retrieve the sharp bit AND replace and finish the job.

So
Ingredients: (yes this will read like a recipe)
- An old nana doily - thankyou Salvos
- Some felt (mine is lovely double-sided from B&M Felt in Freo)
- scissors
- a machine or needle and thread
- Some ribbon or string or something to hang ornament with

1. Cutout some crochet circles / squares / whatever shape you like. Try to snip off all the extremities if you are going for a circle. You'll note i didn't.

2. Match them up on your felt, then cut the felt with about 1/2 or 1cm outside the crochet shape

3. Cut a piece of ribbon to form your ornament hanger
4. Lay these all on top of each other (shag the pins)
5. Squidge them all under your sewing machine foot
6. Go go go! You may go round, do four sides, just make sure you get the ribbon in securely
7. Snip the hundreds of ends off

8. Ta-da!

my lovely man..

2010-12-02T10:16:00.002+08:00

Happy wedding anniversary Roo.
I love you.

may we endure a whole other bunch of sleepless nights and dreamy days together...

Creativity... & my creative space...

2010-12-01T20:56:00.004+08:00

Once upon a time (in 2002ish), I was catching a flight between Melbourne and Darwin. I had been double-dared by my wicked very bestest friend to embellish the tale of my purpose for travel...

(these snaps taken today at our local Dept of Ed 'come and check out the animals' farm which we loooove)

So, for that flight, I became a large breeds vet specialising in artificial insemination of cattle, travelling to the NT to collect specimen... How on earth did I keep a straight face?

This week, less fibbing and more needling.

The advent calendar progresses, yes it is December but I am now on the home stretch. It may be hung before Christmas day...

Some quick little deco's that created a lot of mess both on the table and then when they were finished not much neater...

The scrabble bag continues - i think i am going to start again...

Oh and i am sTILL creating one inside o me.

Head to Kootoyoo for an array of other saucy tales. Better yet, play along & comment and tell me your favouritest white lie...

It's december...

2010-12-01T13:36:00.002+08:00

This book was recommended.

OLIVE THE OTHER REINDEER. A story about a dog, who thinks she is a reindeer, since she has heard the lyrics "...you would even say it glows, all of the other reindeer, used to laugh..etc"

I have bookdepositoryed it for christmas, and found it has also been animated. So here tis the link - seems to be Drew Barrymore as Olive?

Operation advent goes on. Up to number 17 today.... on the 1st December....

flea market finds

2010-11-28T21:24:00.003+08:00

My enamelware is starting to take over every horizontal surface. I am needing some sort of a dresser/kitchenette buffet arrangement?

These scales I have had for a while, they remind me of cooking with my mum and trying for the life of me to remember how many ozzes in a lb...

but have found the perfect accompaniment or perhaps this is too much ?

I think this could be upended as a side-table or maybe a lid added? Join Sophie to see what else has been discovered and snaffled up this week.

Does anyone in Aus have a history with www.trademe.co.nz? Would like to hear your experiences with shipping to Australia etc (is it a local ebay equiv?)

wrens explained ... and nuts

2010-11-26T13:22:00.003+08:00

in case you needed some trivia of the ornithological kind...

I grew up in a house of birds, particularly blue wrens. Mostly ceramic, and often mobile. When I grew up and became an environmental type persona, upon investigation I found that in Australia existed the lovely fairy wren, the superb fairy wren, the splendid fairy wren amongst 12 species. Even though there is the auspicious purple-crowned fairy wren right here in WA, none were described as spectacular... well i think they all are.

So a new header happens today.

Today, we are running across the oval because we need the toilet at home (surely this should induce labour), after collecting some nuts and attempting to making some christmas cheer from this already very cheery specimen: (any attempts at botanical classification?...)

the biggest nuts I have ever seen!

and eating these.

Thanks pod for the recipe - these are called Lemon and Sugar Pancake Muffins - if you are ever looking for a sure thing, try ANY of these recipes from this wonderful blog.

Getting busy making a new scrabble tile bag.

My husband (cough ...and myself) are well known for our 'rule bending'... So we needed something heavy duty, involving double flaps, elastic drawstrings and heavy dark cotton. A bit like getting under an old photography cape... while wearing gumboots. And a condom. With a lock.

my creative space

2010-11-24T11:05:00.005+08:00

This week has been about finding a home for my pins..

and fastly, fastly, quickly, quickly getting through the numbers on the advent calendar before I have a baby... So far I am up to 11. This is like an olympic event once Rex goes to sleep at night!

Bit wonk on both sides, but not sooo bad i can't show you! Other advent calendars to covet and inspire here... Anyone know of an index of crafty decorations to make? Ours are in boxes. Somewhere.

These are headed to something special... tbc

Thanks for your lovely comments on the mystery bikini babe featured in prev post - thankfully she is wearing clothes this week as Perth is back to mid 20's from 39 degrees!

Visit Kirsty (who taught me to sortastemstitch, thanks) for this week's lovely stuff all around the vorld. How good is the horsey neigh stool?!

Weekends in Freo..

2010-11-23T11:59:00.002+08:00

We went to visit Ronald, had a swim as the shark chopper flew overhead, then toured Mosman Park/Pepp Grove with mouth agAPE!

and have been listening to a fair bit of this. It's amazing how quickly a 3yo gets the air guitar happ-en-ing! This footage from the year I was born.

It has been a musical edumacation for me, as some of the lyrics which I will happily since along to have had to be modified. Thought this song was all about a DUNDERHEAD...

We have been sporting eyebrows from the 'angry scotsman' range:

& I admit to have been tucking into some serious comfort food:

And some food torture:

creative foxy lady

2010-11-18T10:46:00.003+08:00

Mostly, have been absent-mindedly creating a small person on my inside, here is the busting-out, compelling, shiny, painful evidence. In a couple of weeks my 'hot-cross' will be v saggy so i am getting it ouuuut there. Oh and its 37degrees.

Besides, have finished a pillow,

a fox is finished and en route to a birthday girl:

and starting an advent calendar from this book by this lady and this one.

This is my box of tricks - ouch! - do you think i might need a pincushion - anyone recommend a little pattern to me?

Only other thing i am creating is a a mount of 'fixit' jobs - these shorts need a re-threading of... can i pls summon some energy?!

Cruise to here if you would like to see more ~~round bikini shots~~ creative spaces...

fleamarket enamel...

2010-11-14T23:01:00.003+08:00

My love for enamelware grows and grows.... not this week though... a very dry enamel week or three here!
Here are some of them, collected from all over and USED in our home:

My favourite piece of all is the jelly mould pictured in white in last photo.
Here for other people's super finds...

my creative spaces: chard & fox belly

2010-11-11T16:10:00.003+08:00

I am getting excited about building this from here: check in next week for progress.

And asides, we have been having birthdays, decorative chard arrangements and pillow mark II....

Head to Kirsty's for lovely inspiration this week.

flea market find question...help pls?

2010-11-05T18:26:00.003+08:00

Seems I have a new-found addiction at the thrift shop - can anyone please tell me what is the name of this type of material, used to make these very nifty old tablecloths?

It has quite a texture to it, you might be able to see in the second snap:

If you go back to my last post, you will see the thrifted Husky that is now in residence on the map table, sharing with the laptop and a cup of tea. Dangerous living here.

This creative envelope: what the h is coming over me!

2010-11-03T14:07:00.005+08:00

Not sure if it is hormonal or otherwise but I have a new (old) purchase and what's more, I HAVE USED IT!

It is about my age, and came with nice round knobs and a 'QC check' that was lovely in itself.

My very first (ambitious) project is a prototype for a gift... Started here:

slowly got to here:

whipped into this with the IRON! (another thing i simply don't do):

and then a late night lasters, got me here:

Not so perfect, but not so bad... Don't look inside at the seams (is that what they are called?).

Rex has taken to the camera again. Asked Oaky to smile for a photo, she didn't, so she copped a 'gentle' reminder... 'SMILE PLEASE!'. Is that fear in her eyes?

For creativity that doesn't involve manipulating brown dogs, or very untidy but speedy needlework, try here. Nice to have something to post that is somewhat 'on message'.

some gems

2010-10-31T16:46:00.003+08:00

Found this little christmas book from 1969 which has lovely pictures,

and lovely letters:

I especially like this last one....

feeling hot!

2010-10-24T14:26:00.002+08:00

Feeling all summery here:

Yes that last photo is of a redback I found on the basil just before i ripped it up to put on the gnocchi... Beware!

Chunkychooky's FIVE big questions

2010-10-22T13:34:00.006+08:00

This lass is having a 'share' thing and I found the time and inclination to play along. Go check out what funny people would say when asked by going here:

Four things I always carry:
1. A handbag minus my phone – those who really know me are v patient
2. Tight tight shoulders (as above - only not so shapely) &
3. A bustling mind
4. The hope that i won’t lose my stack at seatbelt/shoe/apple/leftvright dilemmas from the son

Four things that are in my bedroom
1. A book or two on the run, plus
2. a Richard Scarry for the morningses
3. at least one basket of clean washing that needs to be folded and rehoused
4. Shadows / shapes at 3am from the trees outside – DINOSAUR!

Four Things that I would like to do but haven't done yet
1. Have a baby (i mean really HAVE one). I may regret this in a month.
2. An open ocean swim
3. Create my forever garden and STAY there
4. Find myself at the front end of a plane on the way to Europe

Four things that you don't know about me:
1. I have a scar of unknown origin on my arm from first year of uni
2. Super navigator – I always know where north is – like a bird
3. I will me making gnocchi from scratch this afternoon
4. Trevor, who taught me to dive, showed me how to survive a tiger shark attack – back to a rock/wall/coral, eyes forward, hold onto your buddy and ready to purge reg if sniffed.

Four things I often wonder
1. Why there are signs on the freeway from Newie to Sydney saying “Mine subsidence causing cracking’ etc but there are never any signs to explain those other cracks that seem to be filled with some rubber stuff...
2. What this looks like from behind
3. Why they would bother asking me not to put extra screws in the wall in a rental house...
4. How decaf can still be satisfying – tea/coffee etc ALL GOOD!
(Sorry edited to include two extra ideas that have just popped up)
5. Is this the cutest photo ever taken...?

6. Could we please make a Happy List or a Nice List - Australia's happiest 50 people... How should it be measured?

my creative space

2010-10-21T11:02:00.004+08:00

have been extending last weeks 'cut and stick and stitch' to 'PLAN, cut, stick and stitch'. This has taken some effort.
SO far have made up some of my favourite foods. Not sure how gnocchi would look if a little person was sporting it. Or vegemite toast. Watcha think?

Oh and i got some tags made up in preparation for a homemade christmas!

This parcel is here, and I am wanting to make a quilt with it (and some others). This would be a serious extension of skill and equipment (i currently own a 5 pack of needles)... Any ideas would be very warmly received!

Fleamarket finds...

2010-10-18T20:27:00.003+08:00

Love this map desk - was not so much a bargain - someone entrepreneurial had seen the value in this one and MILKED me. But I had to have it...

I now have mine own little work corner. To do STUFF in.

creative spaces

2010-10-13T13:36:00.004+08:00

I am not not not a sewer. Unlike my novo mate Mosey who recently made me this bit of gear for her FIRST EVER project, sewing for me has mostly been an avoidance of resewing buttons onto shirts/pants/pjs...

until... i got a good dose of insomnia of late and tried a bit o' applique-ing which i found out involves a needle and thread.

The results:
are not straight,
are not even
have 'charm' +1 sore index finger (ideas please for pinpricks - scared i'll go the same way as sleeping beauty?)

but i am more than proud. And seeing in the wee hours.

Have also been creative in the kitchen - this time savoury. Pork schnitzel being my latest thing:

- pork butterfly steak - beaten
- flour
- egg
-breadcrumb mix (blend up some old sourdough, continental parsley, parmesan and sesame seeds + S&P)
Fry with a bit o oil and eat with carrot salad from here... Mmmmmm

For the good stuff, go over here.

small photographer in the house...

2010-10-12T20:24:00.002+08:00

Rex commandeered the point and shoot on saturday... We were reading papers so lacked the enthusiasm to intervene. So this is what he shot...
thrifted 'computer' - new (but old) and clearly very loved

then he got closer

until his viewfinder found round body parts

and rounder and rounder

swam 2.5kms today. That's fifty fifties. I love it.

we back

2010-09-30T13:57:00.002+08:00

made it home - here's a taste of darwin for you.

more to come

wow it was a hot place to be pregnant.

We're going troppo....

2010-09-20T14:21:00.004+08:00

Congrats to Jennie from Posie Patchwork who was my random prize winner for my third blog-iversary!

Taking some time off as we are holidaying in the tropical north for a week. No not palm cove, not cairns, not port o douglas but the real deal DARWIN! WHile we are there, we will be getting down and loud to:

Also sure to be some brekky at Parap and a croc or two for the little one. If anyone caught Poh in Darwin recently, you will be as eager as me to get back there!

Makin Day Challenge PUMPKIN SCONES!

2010-09-19T15:10:00.003+08:00

Oh i have got so very domestic... Scones twice in a week. This time pumpkin scones. Now it is not often I have mashed pumpkin in my fridge, but ....

A very very wet mixture, but look how they turned out!
First a little stills animation so you can see stepwise:

Gif animator

And then a very rare 'she's cooking in her dressing gown' shot in a collage.

Which format do you prefer?

These scones were not so easy to make - did i mention drippingly wet - but the taste was oh so fantastic. And with lemon butter. Ohhhhh.

animation me daddy...

2010-09-18T21:55:00.000+08:00

Played this new trick with some photos seen here prev...

Gif animator

makin day challenge #4

2010-09-17T17:29:00.003+08:00

Date (& Lemon) Scones...

I am not one for making things strictly to a formula/recipe/set of constraints... So I added lemon rind to this recipe:

Please note there is also the BEST pikelet recipe in the world on the bottom here, this has been in my vocab since I started cookin in the kitchen. Is fab..

The scones were fun to make

Looked good uncooked, and smelled & tasted so good when they were baked that I neglected to take a 'project completed' photo... Here they are looking anaemic going into the oven

Allover, I rate them 8/10 on all aspects, Rex would have preferred 'chocolate' flavoured apparently..

I understand where he is coming from, this is my latest obsession... Wanneroo WA strawberries with nutella dabs. Sometimes I am forced to share...

Don't forget my bday giveaway until Sunday - make a comment and you are IN!

Creative birthdays & giveaway for blog3bday

2010-09-12T20:41:00.005+08:00

Rex's birthday (I'll stop talking about it soon) is done and dusted and was so much fun! Also my third blog-iversary, so there is a tiny giveaway at the bottom of the post...

First a happy and gorgeous shot!

Then a flood of snaps of birthday capes, animals, cakes and kids.. My creativity was limited this week to baking and caping, please excuse my lack of knitting...

The capes were inspirationed from here. Easy peasy and apparently very trip-over-y... But super.

Thanks for coming and looking - the blog is also 3, and in apparently bloggy tradition, a giveaway is in order. Since I seem to have only made cakes and capes in the last two weeks, this giveaway is a choice of the following, made by Bellymoo, and marketed here today at Perth Upmarket.

Leave a comment on the blog and I'll choose someone at random at the end o the week to score a lovely ring!

Here for something that doesn't involve butter icing.

2010-09-10T21:02:00.001+08:00

Rex was 3 today - he is a little buzz obsessed... as you can see...

my (Ruby's?) creative space circa 1903...

2010-09-08T14:13:00.004+08:00

Hello - sorry so long!

Have some offering up for you this week

Firstly, something very special which has come to me via my Grandma Hilda, from her mother (my great-grandma) Ruby Menzies. This little sampler (is this what is called?) was made by her in Grade 5 (10 years old - i think i was mastering french knitting not french knots) in 1903.... It is just lovely, and my M&D had it framed for my birthday... Aren't i the luckiest?

Ruby lived in Black Mountain (north of Armidale) where I am keeping up the making-day challenge... After using a whole pack of butter on these, I have slowed up! There will be images after the weekend when serious passionfruit cream filled yo-yo's will feature at the farm party. This one by Mrs E.W. Parker whom I have found out from parentals is Mrs ERIC Parker - what about this curiousity of losing your name even in print!

This week, this one (on the right) turns three. I am finding this quite a challenge to comprehend!

Pickle (as he is known) isn't too spoilt with 'stuff' but this birthday seems to have whipped up a gravity all of its own, and after wrapping yesterday, this is what was hidden in the secret cupboard! wo

And the sorting and organising continues here at nest central.

Have a happy old week and skuut over here for more creativity (that was likely done this week not last century)...