:::Jiffy Dress:::

This little vintage pattern was begging to be made....just look at that back.....
So I made it for little Mia. I haven't sewn a pattern piece in a looong time.
Things are a little rusty, the shoulders are a little wide but passable...but I just think I may be finding my clothes sewing mojo again. I added my own embellishments......my favourite being the vintage flowers on the front that I adorned with, yes, yoyo's (ha) and the vintage button on the back.
There's something pretty satisfying about sewing for my girl.

Made my Tuesday.....

Yesterday was one of "those" days and this morning wasn't looking much better. But I have just found I have been given an award from Sherrin at Starashan and it's made my morning. Thanks Sherrin! I'd like to join in and maybe make someone else's day so I am going to pass it on too. My awards go to....
Mama Craft
Bluebirds Do Fly
Gillybean
I Wannabe Crafty
Sherrin also passed on a Tree of Happiness award and in the shoes of Sherrin I'm going to pass it on to the same four people with no obligation whatsoever....just that their blogs and comments make me happy.

So....this is very timely because I spent the afternoon of my dreadful day yesterday outside consciously noticing things that I found beautiful or that made me happy, so I have a ready and very current supply!!

The six things that make me happy right now are:::

(1) I made this fabric pompom yesterday......it makes me happy.

(2) Hot jasmine tea in the warm afternoon sun makes me happy.

(3) Watching Mia draw portraits of all our dogs in chalk and then lean over and grab a snack to nibble straight from the garden. What better place to create some artwork than the garden...the vege garden that is.....which makes me very happy!
(4) The striking contrast of colours on my Kale as I was picking the veges for dinner. It is getting more beautiful as it matures. It is Red Winter. The purple is almost fluorescent against the green of the leaf...I wish this photo did it justice. Watching my garden grow and the beauty in simple veg makes me happy!
(5) This lone little gerbera flower that has just popped up in our front garden. Our front yard is very tropical with various palms, tropical shrubs, bougainvillia, ixora, frangipani, cordylines and bromeliads...with another avocado and oddbod feijoa thrown in...you get the picture. It gets little attention other than our enjoyment so when these old gerberas pop up from almost nowhere, their pretty little faces make me happy.
(6) And 6...well 6 is my excitement over almost reaching my 100th post and gathering together a few little goodies because bravely I would like to offer a giveaway too. Giving gifts to people makes me really happy! Stay tuned!

Thanks Sherrin I think I could actually go on but will save them for now. ;)

I hope everyone can find some happy in their day today.

Homemade Soap....

The cheats (and chickens) way.
I've wanted to make my own soap for the longest time but my fear of using lye and not having any uninterrupted child-free time has stopped me....until, that is, I found this recipe. It is far from my ideal and I feel uncomfortable with the lux as I don't like artificial "perfume" but I had to try it out and satisfy my need to give it a go.
We made this batch over a week ago and I have to say it has cured better than I expected. The soapy smell has settled significantly and it is really quite lovely to use. I do think however it needs a longer curing time as it still feels a little soft.

This lot is bergamot, oat and nasturtium.

When I brave the "real" homemade natural stuff my recipe of choice will be this one....it comes with an excellent, excellent tutorial, but I also have my eye on this recipe as well. In the meantime we will all enjoy being that much extra clean.

What I got for $3.00.....

this extremely cute little pram spied at our local thrift store.....
Just perfect for a girl's dollies......
and for a little brother to tinker with when big sis' is not around.....

On my doorstep.....

this morning, after returning inside from enjoying a nice cup of tea in the sun was a rather large parcel. I'd missed Terry our local delivery driver (yes, shame, I do know our delivery postie by name!). I knew straight away it must be my Winter Gift-Away that I had won over at The Bird Bath.

Such a pretty parcel needs to be opened carefully.

I know you may have seen it before but here is what was wrapped up so beautifully inside this enticing blue and dainty lace.
Thank you Andreja! Such adorable and charming gifts. You are very generous and your knitting is just A1. I love everything and I cannot wait to put your goodies to use....even if it is just to look at, touch and admire. You have put a big smile on my face today.

Bean there...

I know I know.....I'm all "beaned out" too. These things never give up. Guiltily I am finding myself looking at my snow peas and french beans with an impatient sigh in my heart to hurry up and finish so I can replant my beds with spring and summer crops, but also with the thankfulness and satisfaction that so much green produce has been bought into my kitchen this season. The fresh garden nibbling and additions to our meals has been a delicious and abundant attraction in my winter garden.
I am grateful nevertheless this afternoon as I pluck the start of a second (and final) flowering of beans and yes, the last of my snow peas. Half the peas have already been pulled out and thrown to the chooks and the compost, the other half are soon destined for the same. For now their nitrogen producing roots can remain a little longer while my newly sown eggplant and capsicum seeds germinate in their boxes.
I am enjoying cooking and eating what is left as well as starting to "steal" from our Silverbeet and Kale crops and dream in anticipation of what is soon to be growing here along with our budding warmer days.

Makin' lunch....

Saturday's multicultural lunch, made to the tunes of........these guys.

::: Mulch and Magic :::

Knowing our lovely neighbours were having some large trees cut down from their yard this weekend I had discreetly mentioned my desire for some delicious mulch for my gardens.

Well it turns out the tree loppers mulched it all in the truck on their driveway and there was an absolute mountain! They didn't want to take it away with them surprisingly so when the phone rang with the offer of my mulch I replied with a loud and happy "yes!" as I ran out the door and down the road babe in arms and girl trailing behind to check it out and have a chat.

Between our two houses we only took a portion of what there was, the majority generously being for me. So very lucky and so very busy with all the hands we could muster to barrow and bucket it up the road.
Half shifted and half wonderful play mountain.

It now surrounds the cubby house and fills all gardens and just the vegetable paths.

And amazingly, look what popped up in the cubby square over the course of the afternoon. A perfect roost for a little bottom. The Faeries must have been about when we weren't looking......or was it "Bob"??

I've heard these things magically breed too......there will be more.....don't they just make you smile?

Holding trust and a bit of fun.....

Having fun teaching Mia some embroidery and button sewing last week bought to mind the importance of trust, patience and letting go of the need to bridle others creativity.
Mia's little machine has unfortunately now proved more a toy than a "creator" due to it's age and some damage and despite being given little tasks and offcuts to create her own masterpieces Mia is always watching longingly when I sew.
It was time to let go of the idea of waiting to get a "blunt" needle for her to create her own embroidery and just see how she would handle a normal one.

She didn't let the difficulty of every one's favourite part of sewing discourage her....threading the floss through that darn eye. She listened well and began with intent, with a very happy face and nimble little fingers and she watched as her needle created her very own stitches......My girl sewing. My heart warmed watching her sew, watching her think things through and see with pride as her embroidery flowered. I smiled to myself as her plans for her creation evolved as time went on. Who would it be a gift for....what is it a picture of...which coloured floss did she want to change to next?
I got to reduce my pile of cheap craft buttons.....Mia began her learning of a new skill....but most importantly I learnt to trust my girl more and allow the delight of her creative self to momentarily pervade my being.