Tuesday, October 26, 2010

I have been tagged



I have just been tagged by Just Martha (I love that name!) in a challenge, not a huge one so I am happy to play along. In the meantime pop over to Just Martha and have a read through her blog, I guarantee you will be entertained with her musings!

4 Things in My Handbag.
My handbag has made a bit of a transition in the last couple of years and has actually returned to a woman's bag after being a receptacle for fruit bars, snacks, sunscreen, wipes, small cars, dolls, hair clips, lollipops (for emergency bribes) extra undies in 3 sizes and other sundries that would aid a multitude of dramas that I would inevitably run into with three small kiddies.  

1. Sunnies
2. Make up 
3. My owl and the pussycat compact

4. A crochet hook and wool

Serious chick out and about  town huh?


4 Things in My Bedroom
1. Usually there is always one, sometimes three invaders. Mostly in the morning, seeking snuggles and ready to report on their night's sleep and other random ideas that may pop into their heads.




2. Cushions! Mr G sometimes makes the bed and always makes a silent protest about the cusions.
I can tell this from the unruly way he THROWS them on the bed. Grrrr anarchist!

3. A chair usually full of my clothes

4. My new / old up-cycled rosey picture


4 things I would like to do but didn't do
I don't let these things bog me down by considering the butterfly effect - you know change one thing in the past and everything changes....I love my life so i would want to risk it. But....I kind of wish I had of :

1. Travelled when I was young
2. Bought a house when I was younger
3. Maybe started my family a bit earlier so I could of had number four
4. Stayed at school

and I  also wish I had of punched my first boss in the mouth who wouldn't let me go home until I hugged him - he never got hugged and it was always stressful as a 15 year old dodging it, and scary too.

4 things you may not know about me




1. My jaw cracks. Loudly and periodically. No pain involved. Nothing wrong with it. Just cracks and it sends my sister around the twist when she hears it.

2. When I was a window dresser, there was rarely enough money in the budget to hire someone to wear the character costumes that would accompany various children's promotions. I have been Care Bear, Santa Bear, an Elf , a clown and a few others.....Care Bear was fun as 19 year old I could accost gorgeous young men with ease...it was kind of being like a rock star but you were mobbed by small children and unfortunately any stray dogs that might be wandering around the city plaza's !

3. I can scuba dive.  I have for a few years and I don't like going down deep. But I love swimming and breathing underwater, through sea gardens.

4. I want to be filthy rich so I can buy LOTS of property and rent them out at a very affordable rate to those who could really do with a helping hand to get on their feet.





Thursday, October 21, 2010

A Mother's Heart

Naomi today is asking bloggers linked to her Thursday post "A Mother's Heart" to share their ideas about qualities and attributes that help us to be good Mothers.

Whilst I don't think there is actually a "right" or a "wrong" here, after nearly 12 years doing this gig I certainly have learnt (often the hard way) a thing or two.  Like many Mother's I have that very private list entitled " things I did to my kid and wished I hadn't" - this list usually starts in the first week of Motherhood and may contain things like getting the baby sunburnt, over dressing the baby, eating something to spicy and it goes through the milk etc etc.   You know the stuff, it made you cry and think you were really going to suck at being a Mummy - but things got better and before you knew it you were cruising with the best of them!

So rather than duplicate Naomi's list, I will just share a few thoughts, words to the wise so to speak.

Know that there are women out there that will be openly critical about your child, to your face, in front of others.  This is when you need to be strong, be dignified and not argue with this woman. Your good grace will show her rudeness up to others and send a clear message that her mean spirit is wasted on you.  Naturally you will need to have a good vent later to your hubby, mum or sister - how dare she!


Find inspiration everywhere!


Be authentic, be vulnerable, be honest, be real, be yourself in front of your children. Children can spot a phoney at ten paces.


Forgive, transcend and move on. Life will throw you curve balls and bad stuff does happen to good people and sometimes these things are really hard to get past but hanging on to "stuff" can rob you.
It was during such a period when my Mother told me that these were the best times of my life, and my Mother knows best. Enjoy each and every stage of your child's life because they disappear in the blink of an eye.  Imagine what a wonderful life lesson this teaches your children?

Friday, October 15, 2010

Ole and other goings on


Here is our resident Senorita. My parents-in-law have been in Europe for the past few months. Today in the post Martha received this flamenco dancers' costume from Spain. 

Our rennovations are going on still.
I painted our green wall white last weekend, Mr G was most happy as he is the resident painter and was delighted that I picked up the roller. 

Now I for the change in decor.
And I have been stuck. I challenged myself NOT to spend $$$$$ and to see what I could scrounge, up-cycle, recycle and repaint.  

Hunting around my "storage", I found a whole bolt of red ticking that I bought many years ago and promptly changed my mind because it was to boring.  Obviously I am pretty boring these days because I got thinking. 
Thinking French, thinking Scandinavian, thinking simple, thinking frugal.

I consulted Google, because after all who makes any kind of decision without doing so, and became inspired with something that has NEVER interested me, Shabby Chic. Yes, I am nervous about this but what the heck!


I made this cushion, I have been making fabric flower brooches by the dozen lately and it has lent its way to the cushions. A few of Aunty June's really really vintage buttons, a bit of saddle stitch and done What do you think? The second one should be ready tomorrow.
As I said I have been obsessed with making fabric flower brooches. I love using some of my really old buttons that I have been hanging onto, some for decades! 


I used a 1970's girls wrap skirt pattern to make this for Martha. I also made a matching flower brooch for her too! 

And finally I got some time to make a card or two.

Well that is my week so far. My "lighting up" project will continue - I am now trying to lighten me up and have started a serious exercise regime ugh! Will post more over the weekend I hope as there are lots of things in the pipeline including a softie for a swap I entered so pop on back over the weekend!

Hope you all have lots of fun and crafting planned!



Saturday, October 9, 2010

Change is in the air

I am in the mood for change. I feel restless with my surroundings, with me.
I am not looking to move house or city or even job, no no I am more than happy with these.
No, I need a make over on a big scale.
This isn't something I woke up with this morning, it has been verging for some weeks.
Oh the Winter, it imprisoned me forcing me to ponder my navel and when I couldn't stand that
I began to notice things.
My decor looked tired.
I felt tired and sluggy.
There was SO much clutter around my home.
I felt cluttered.
I felt fat.
Oh my, I have gotten fat!!!

Hmmm, what to do, what to do....I know!
Brainstorm with a bag of raspberry licorice (oh that deserves a post on its own)

TODAY is the day!

The makeover begins !  


This is my family room and where I will begin.
This weekend I will say good bye to the green wall. I love green and once enjoyed having this shade everywhere. I recently painted the dining white and the hallway, I love the lightness of having white all around me using colour to accent.

I will be changing the curtains to something lighter even though I quite like these curtains, maybe they go up again in when the colder weather returns.  The rug is already in the hallway, my brother in law sent it to us from Dubai some years ago and it is thick luxurious.

The cushions must be changed and the coffee table is bit worse for wear too. Sadly though my purse strings are drawn tight at the moment and this will be on a budget. I hope I can surprise myself and achieve something that feels fresh and new and not too dodgy!

The will be lots of change posted here in the next few weeks, I hope I can share it with you.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

What I am loving this week

Hasn't it been lovely? The presence of the sun, its warmth and radiance generating energy and love.   My quick trip to Canberra was lovely, seeing my lovely Mum, my sparky little sister that always sparks on all cylinders and is great fun, her Magpie mad hubby and my gorgeous niece and nephew - of course being able to cuddle my Martha after a week was just heaven.

I have been so lazy taking photos, I have heaps I could blog but haven't taken the photos.  I will soon but here are some things I love this week

Fabric flower brooches: I can't stop making them!




Art by my 11 year old son, I am one proud Mama, this picture he drew graced 
the program for the school production of Alice and Lewis in Blunderland a take 
on Alice in Wonderland. My 9 year old son had a leading role of Lewis.
By the end of the night Mr G and I were astounded at the clever
people we have brought into the world!

A china Holly Hobbie tea set .
I have had this vintage tea set, still in its
box for yonks. How silly, it needed playing with.
Martha now has it and her and her dollies are
being very social with it.



A Spring Bike


Blood Oranges, mmmm juicy!

Polka Dotted Toadstools