Our Creative Space

It's been a while since I played along with Our Creative Space, it's so nice to be back! As I sit here there is beautiful, heavy rain falling, after many hot days, what a fabulous sound. It's such a summer shower, big fat blobs crashing down on the roof. The ducks are in heaven.

Luckily I just managed to get all the washing in, including my newly finished rainbow doona cover. In the next week or so it will be in my new, updated shop. I do hope you'll pop in and check it out when it opens.

So I've been busy getting stock ready, I found these five little cardi's that my mum knitted last year. It's always fun to then match them with a bunny, or a cat, or a doll. I'm hoping to branch out a bit and have a bigger range of toys. I think part of my lethargy last year was due to feeling a bit tied in with bunny making. I felt a bit uninspired. But the new year has bought new energy! So I'm going for it folks, and enjoying every minute so far.

I heard yesterday that a certain person may be finishing up with her blog - something I considered too. Do you think there is an expiry date on blogs? Are you a long term blogger who feels a bit trapped or no longer interested? I wonder what keeps it fresh for you, is your blog your friend, your diary? 

I know a lot of people are now using Instagram to connect, record, communicate. (To find me just click the link on the right of this page, come and say hi!) Do you use Instagram too? I love it, I confess. But talking to Kate one day I also realised that as much as I enjoy Instagram, it's visual appeal really hooks me in, I also like to read, and write. Blogging is a great outlet in this way.

For me the vital ingredient is balance. Making time to blog should be a pleasure, not a chore. Visiting other blogs is fun but shouldn't be an obligation. Having a busy life with kids and school and Mark and all the activities I'm involved with I guess I find blogging and Instagram and nice place for me. Me time!

But I don't want to be trapped by internet connections, nice pun there, so I'm trying to limit myself a bit.

After all, real life is what it's all about. Face to face, coffee to coffee, (now I'm channelling David Bowie  ..Ashes to ashes..)

..anyway, you know what I mean!

Do you find it hard to get the balance right? For me it seems to be an ongoing thing. Working from home, making that a priority on certain days, having time for my kids, my health, my hubby, my friends,

community things, school...it's not easy is it? But I guess it's a joyous thing too, imagine being bored!

 I'd much rather have a full life, a creative life, a fun & loving life, that is a bit haphazard and messy but full of interest and people and laughs. 

And yes, my house is totally messy.

What's happening in your creative space? Are you making some time for it? Hope so,

see you soon lovely ones xo

My Creative Space (& Giveaway!!)

....almost didn't happen today. On Monday night my camera went missing. All day yesterday I searched and sweated. I love my camera and feel quite weird without it. This morning I asked Rosie, again, if she had seen it. Ever so casually she revealed it had been 'dropped outside, next to the yellow climbing thing." And yes, there it was, in the wet grass. I should also mention here that we had over and inch of rain on Monday night. Hmmm. But all is good!! The camera is fine! Miracles do happen, it still works...happy me!!

Today is all about bunnies. I'm really enjoying making them and working with some new colours and colour combinations. Lovely friends Phillippa & Matilda have commissioned two bunnies for their twin nieces/cousins. Matilda has chosen the fabric, one in orange & blue and the other a purpley/grey. I can't wait to see their little orange and purple cardi's which Mum is working on as we speak.

Then there is this blue bunny, I am in love with this cardi. Both Blue Girl and this sweet Holly Hobbie bunny have been ordered as Christmas presents.

But wait...there's more!!

After 124 posts and with 124 lovely followers it's definitely time for my first giveaway. I can't believe it's taken me so long! I have had such a fun time so far in Blog Land and I love updating my own little blog with photo's and thoughts from my life. It's been so wonderful meeting people from all over the world, as well as closer to home, and getting a peek into other peoples lives. I am constantly amazed at the generosity and warmness of others and the creative, kind and funny people out there. So thank you for reading my ramblings and for all your sweet, interesting, thought provoking, inspiring, hilarious, and supportive comments. I really appreciate the time and care that people take, so again, thankyou so much sweeties!

Now....drumroll........I have two little alpaca bunnies to giveaway....



....this is Holly, she is so soft and is wearing a lovely moss green cardi.




....and this is Archie! (You may remember Archie's blue overalls.) He is quite a handsome fella but slightly bashful and needs a good cuddle.




If you would like to win one of these two bunnies then there are three ways to win!!

1. Please leave me a comment below and you will go into the draw.

2. If you follow me then you have two chances of winning! Please mention

that you follow me when you leave your comment.

3. Finally if you mention this giveaway (make sure you let me know) on your blog

and link to me then you have three chances!! Yay!

As a added bonus I also have a lovely, red Lazy Bones dress (bnwt!) to giveaway as well.


Have a look at their website, lthey have some lovely dresses and bedding too. The dress is size 'small' so won't suit everyone but it is so pretty and all cotton and would be perfect for Christmas Day. If you would like it please say so in your comment and it will go home with one of the bunnies.

I will draw out the winners sometime soon and I'm happy to post anywhere in the world.

So my creative space today is a very happy one. I can't wait to visit all the other creative spaces over here and see what everyone is up to. Hope your day is a happy one too xo

My Place & Yours: Where I blog...

I'm joining in the fun with this weeks meme, blog H.Q., thanks to the lovely Tania from Ninon.

I usually sit at this little table when I'm blogging. The table was one of a set that belonged to my grandparents, Nan & Hume. The tables are all different sizes (like the Three Bears) and fit into each other. The small stool was once a chair but my Beloved sat on it and broke the back off. Nice one. (Does that make him Goldilocks?) I seem to have a thing for small chairs and tables, my sewing table & chair are also tiny. Not sure what thats all about...maybe I just don't want to grow up.



This is my brothers' teddy, Teddy. He is a soothing presense in a chaotic world. Yes folks, my world is definitely chaotic, especially today as there is alot of pent up Hallloween energy and anticipation filling the house.




At five o'clock the children's friends will arrive to go on the annual Trick or Treating extravaganza. Today is special in our house because it is Mark's birthday too which must have been fun for him growing up in America.



Dandelion blog action takes place all over the place though. But mostly here in my boudoir where I sometimes sneak away to for some quiet r & r.




My bed is a good spot to peruse the many wonderous blogs that are out there. Where I catch up with crafty things, newsy bits and see whats happening with bloggy friends and meet new ones.



Another spot is here in the hallway where it's all hustle and bustle. This black bakelite phone belonged to my stepfather, Lenton Parr. It sat in Len's hallway and still has his number on the dial. It's a nice way to remember a lovely man and his cool, dark house in Sandringham.




Looking down at me is my family, taken in about 1973, at Eganstown. My mum was a weaver and the Womens Weekly came and took this photo. Love the poses. That's me in the pink skivvy.

Hope you are all having a happy weekend, see more blog H.Q.'s here

Like magic

It was a..

sweet lovin',

breaky in bed type,

chooky,

soup making,

bunny creating,

Abba singing,

jonquil growing,

chalk drawing,

outdoorsy, wood collecting

egg gathering type of

Sunday.

A relaxing, family Sunday which was just what I needed as Friday was a blur of tears and feeling low, for no particular reason. Hormones? Melancholy..who knows. I didn't feel like making anything, talking to anyone, blogging. I felt overwhelmed by the household chaos, the cleaning, the cooking, the looking after of others. A blind came down and stayed down. Sometime during Saturday it eased up a little and by Sunday the sun was shining through my window again and we had a special, wonderful, lovely day. The house was full of happy sounds & smells, kids singing, soup bubbling away, Swedish gingerbread biccies were baking, our lovely neighbours visited. Spring was in the air & Rosie & Sunday went to the park, splashed in puddles and came home to a hot bath and spaghetti for dinner. As we were eating Rosie said quietly, "I love all of you, and Charlotte & Nan." Things don't always run smoothly do they?.. but when they do it's magic. Days you want to keep forever.