29.6.12

Swap Preview

In just 10 days Rhonda of Joy Grows and I will be launching a swap... a puppet swap!!  I cannot tell you any more about it right now, but do come back on Monday July 9th for the full scoop...

And, for some pegdoll and kid-fun cuteness (plus a handful of great book recommendations), have a look here at Sacred Dirt.

Happy Friday!

Note: This post has been linked up to Friday's Nature Table at Magic Onions and Creative Friday at Natural Suburbia.

25.6.12

Little Monsters


It's always nice to have a few extra little monsters running around the house...

Don't you agree?

20.6.12

Thirteen Years


When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now
Will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine?
If I'd been out 'til quarter to three, would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?
(Beatles, song lyrics, 'When I'm 64')

Happy Anniversary, my love!

18.6.12

Traffic Jam: the weekend that was

Usually, about three times a year, we make a pilgrimage down to Los Angeles so that my mother-in-law can get her fair share of hugs from her two youngest grandchildren.  My mother-in-law is elderly, frail and would not otherwise ever get to see my boys (it's been 9 years since she has been able to come up and visit us.)  While we don't really like making the trip to Los Angeles, we feel these family visits are important and worthwhile...

However, over the weekend, we saw a lot of this...

And we also saw a lot of this.  It seems Los Angeles has turned into one big parking lot.

We spent the entire day yesterday sitting in the car, driving home from Southern California.  Happy Father's Day, my darling.  Thank you for your kindness, your patience and your love. Thank you for the family we have together and for getting us all home safely...

11.6.12

A Pincushion Swap

Back in early May I noticed a blog post about a pincushion swap hosted by Rachel of House of Pinheiro and Charlotte of Sew Far Sew Good.  Happy for a bit of distraction (and never one to turn down a bit of pincushion-fun) I decided to jump in.  Keen to try my hand at creating an egg-cup pincushion, I discovered this dainty beauty at a local antique shop and set to work.

After the pincushion was made, the creation of a matching needle-book was definitely in order! 

I was paired to swap with Lisa of the blog Lydia's Treasures and, after looking over her blog, it seemed she liked flowers and the color pink, so I hoped this would suit her...

In return for my funny little egg-cup & needle-book creations, I received a swirled pink confection of a pincushion.  The cushion arrived all the way from New Zealand, complete with pins topped by hand-crafted roses.  In addition to this, Lisa also created a matching needle-book stuffed with yet more lovely pins (each pin topped by a tiny cupcake or heart which she had also made herself...)  Thank you Lisa, ever so much!

Now I'm eying the various vintage pieces tucked away in the corners of my home... what else shall I turn into a pincushion?

10.6.12

Birthday Party: Treasure Hunt!

With four 9 year olds, one five year old and a toddler running around the house yesterday during little Mr.'s birthday party, it was difficult to grab photos, but we did our best.  Why the running around, the madness and frenzy (besides the fact that it was a birthday party and our house was full to bursting with a gaggle of boys?)  We had a treasure hunt!  I sent the troupe of children racing up to the top of the garden, down to the garage, back out to the garden, searching under the sinks, inside the washing machine, under the carpets & in the bathtub.  I thought that, by the end of it all, they'd be tired of my silly, rhymed clues, but it seems that, even once the treasure had been found, the favorite part of it all was hunting down and puzzling out the mysterious clues (some of which were chopped up in pieces and required  assembly!)  There were eleven clues in all-- below are  few examples...

You can water the garden, or water your toes. 
The next clue is hidden by the ____________.

The next clue is hidden in the garden, up high.
Just climb up the stairs ‘till you can almost reach the sky!

 

You walk on us because we lie on the floor.
In this house, you will find 4.
If you want the next clue, check beneath us, you must…
(Though beware, you may also find dirt and some dust!)
 -=-=-=-

 And my favorite clue (for which we sadly have no photo) was: 

Swish, swish, swish,
I'm a fantastic machine!

Just add some soap and
I’ll get your clothes ___________.

-=-=-=-
 Next year, more clues... more treasure-hunting...
Hooray for birthdays! Hooray for fun!

9.6.12

Happy Birthday Darling Boy


In heaven shone a golden star.
An angel led you from afar.
From heaven high unto the earth,
And brought you to your place of birth.

Oh, welcome, welcome lovely day,
With sunshine bright and flowers gay.
With painted birds that sing their song,
And make you kind and good and strong. 


Happy, Happy Birthday to my Wonderful, Adventuresome, Darling Boy...

6.6.12

Book Spine Poetry

I was alerted to the blog 100 Scope Notes and the concept of Book Spine Poetry via the lovely Anna B.  The samples of book spine poetry posted over at 100 Scope Notes are laugh-out-loud funny and not to be missed.  Of course, after having a look, I was compelled to try this out and have discovered that creating book spine poems is an addictive pastime.  My first attempt turned out to be R-Rated (and not exactly appropriate for this blog.)  Above, you can see a sample of one of my subsequent attempts...

If you're of a mind (and have time to email a photo), I'd love to see what you come up with!

4.6.12

A Guest Post at Twig & Toadstool


Starting today at Twig & Toadstool there will be a weekly Monday link-up party called All Spunk... No Junk. Along with the weekly link-up party, there will a featured guest-blogger, and guess who the guest blogger is this week?  Likely you've already figured that one out... it's me!!

So, please stop by Twig & Toadstool to have a peek at the tutorial for my Fields of Butterflies Picture Lantern (and don't forget to share what you've been doing this week by linking up...)

Cheers!

2.6.12

Birthday Cake

There are those who demand their slice of birthday-gateau topped by the pink sugar-frosting rose from the bottom left-hand side of the cake. I prefer my slice of birthday cake topped by a few extra rocks...



 
And an oak-leaf, or two, for good measure...


We've been practicing, you see. Little Mr. has a birthday coming up in a week, and my wee Bloom will be turning 2 the first week of July.  Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear children, Happy Birthday to you...  Now, do you think we can blow out all those candles?

This all reminds me of Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells.  If you're in need of a smile (or a good laugh), you might give this book a try...