Belonging

What does belonging mean to you? Do you like to be part of something, does it make you feel good? For me it's a really important part of my life..it helps to give my life meaning and it makes me happy.

Did I tel you I started a new job recently? I'm working in the prep room at the school our kids attend, and I'm loving it! It's so nice to have something new in my life, to be back at work, even though it is only a couple of mornings a week.

When I left my previous position, when I was pregnant with Lucy, I remember the first few days at home so well. Instead of feeling happy to be finished with work I was really struck by the sudden lack of contact with others.

 No one emailed me anymore! My inbox was empty. No one to have lunch with, chat with, I felt really lonely at the time. In hindsight that sudden isolation probably contributed to what turned into post natal depression, it was a difficult time. I often wonder if having a blog during that time would have helped, I like the way new mums can now use the internet to stay in touch with the world, and other people.

Anyway, lately I've been having the reverse experience! I feel super duper connected. It's nice to be involved in the community of the classroom, of the school, as a worker, as well as a parent. I'm enjoying the satisfaction of helping the preppies with their learning, and just being with this gorgeous group of kids is so inspiring and fun. I've been at home a LONG time with my kids and have never regretted it.

 It's always been a priority for me to be there for them in their young years and I've been lucky that I haven't had to work. But any mum knows that it's not always easy, and the space for myself has been pretty limited. So I'm happy, happy, happy to be working!

Not that I've been stuck at home on my own for the last 12 years. I've alway liked to do community based things and I really like to volunteer and be involved. So you can imagine how much I am also LOVING helping out at our new community op shop!  So many great people have come together to make this op shop happen and although I've only done a few hours I"m looking forward to my regular Friday spot. I like that I'm helping those in need, socialising with different people, contributing, belonging.

Yesterday our family went to our local Anzac Day parade and ceremony. The kids held our school banner and marched with their friends down the main street, in support of the brave men and women who fought & died for our country.

It's so good for them to learn about our history, about people who lived before them and have an understanding of how war effects us all. It was a very moving ceremony and I was so glad we were there, to be involved, to be sharing this important event.

Our kids belong to a local football and netball club. It's a very family oriented club and a great way for the kids to learn skills, make friends, see some other parts of Victoria and to have the opportunity to be part of a team. Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose. I don't get to go often enough because I'm usually caught up with the ballet world on Saturdays, but that's ok. Mark is great at taking the older two and I hope we can do swapsies sometimes so we both get to have a turn. I like that my kids are learning the beauty of community, of being part of something bigger than themselves, that they belong.

Lately I've been aware that my interest in blogging is fading a little, I'm just not so motivated to read other blogs or to crap on about my own life too much. I've been thinking about it a lot. Should I just finish up? Should I make more of an effort? What the hell is going on with me..am I just plain lazy?? Why don't I seem to have the time to read about other people's lives anymore? Am I a really crap blogger???

Anyway, the only conclusion I have come to is that I'm too busy belonging in the real world. I love my bloggy friends, I really like my own little blog space so it's not that. I just really love all the things I"m involved with that aren't online and this doesn't leave much time for blogging.

So I'm not going to throw in the towel, I'll still be around here and there. I'm sorry I haven't visited you, it's not that I don't care. I think I've just found lately that my belonging spaces are elsewhere. (Hey that all rhymed...!)

 I hope I'll still have some belonging space in blog land too. We'll see. In the mean time I'd love to hear about what belonging means to you. Are you involved in your community? Does it give you something that makes you feel good too? Do you ever feel a bit isolated or disconnected? Sometimes it's harder in the city but I know that everywhere there is a place for someone, for some kind of belonging. Because we are all important, we all matter and sometimes we need to look outside of ourselves, to find out just how much.

Hope to see you soon  lovely ones...xo

Fleamarket Finds

Lots of lovely finds to show you this week. This illustration comes from one of my favourite thrifted books, handed on to me by my mum who found it many years ago.

While I was taking the photo's for todays post I have had so much fun revisiting this gorgeous book.

If only you could see the many pages of beautiful ideas, patterns, pictures...

I'm seriously going to have to try to make some of these adorable dolls clothes, this is only page one! There is a very elaborate wedding dress over the page, I might have to start with something simpler though, such as bloomers, ok... maybe the hankie.

So sweet..

Guimpe? Isn't that a town in New South Wales...?

Yesterday on the way back from Melbourne I found this kids footy jumper for $1.50, just right for a certain girl I know who loves the Doggies!

And I'm pretty happy too with this cotton bedspread which appeared at Savers in Brunswick. Boy is that one bustling shop!

Finally here is a dear little tin pot thingie which I found a few weeks ago. I love the flowers, the little knob on top and the mystery of what to put in it? Any ideas?


I can't get enough op shop action. I love to make friends with the volunteers, they are the salt of the earth and are often older women who work hard, like a chat (sometimes) & are great at giving back to their community. Do you have a favourite opshop, or opshop person, maybe an opshop story? I'd love to hear from you. Send me an email, my address can be found with my profile.

Have you found anything amazing lately? I bet you have. Do pop over to see Sophie & see what other treasures have been found. See you soon sweeties xo

Happy New Year!!

Good morning and welcome to 2010!! I'm sitting here in bed listening to the lovely rain drip, drip, dripping outside. What a cool, calm and peaceful way to start the New Year!

Yesterday was the hottest day, humid and intense. Later in the day a storm brewed and as we made our way down to the Gala (or Galah as Mum calls it) Parade in the main street of Daylesford great, grey clouds piled up in the sky.

Every year our town puts on a parade, to celebrate the end of one year, and the start of another. We celebrate our town, our community, the wonderful people who live here and the organisations such as the local fire brigade, schools and commnity groups. Rosie, Sunday & I joined the Daylesford Commnity Childcare Centre's float to celebrate 20 years of the Centre. It was so much fun riding in the truck and seeing all those lovely, familiar faces in the crowd.

What a beautiful and fun event it was. I remember going to the parade as a child, and being in it too. One year I entered as a Wild Animal in a caged trailer that my dad drove. He would stop occaisionally, I would escape & he would chase me around the trailer with a mad homemade whip. Crazy. Another year my brother & I rode up front in the truck of the Fun in the Forest float, oranised by a well known cartoonist & a local artist. What we didn't realise at the time was that behind us in the Forest two large nude wooden puppets were cavorting, much to the shock (and delight!) of the crowd. At the end of the parade the artist/driver was arrested!! This was thirty five years ago, times were different I suppose. No such shenanigans last night!

As we drove through the main street I was so happy to be there with my kids, with my family watching and waving, with friends smiling and having fun, in a beautiful town where I feel so at home. It such a good feeling to be where you want to be.

Just before I went to sleep last night I reflected a little on the year. I could hear the people in town partying, the music, the fireworks, the cheering at twelve o'clock. It's been a busy and full year. We had a wonderful family holiday, I've made a ton of bunnies which I hope are getting lots of cuddles and love. I made a million Love Hearts and had some great sales in some fabulous shops. This in itself is a dream come true!

I've blogged about my life, what I make, how I feel, what I see. My blog is my own little space where I can be myself and welcome friends, old and new. I've spent fun times with my family, there's been tough moments and challenging days. I've seen my mum make a new home nearby and got to see her alot more which I love. I've enjoyed building on friendships, getting to know good mates even better and sharing our lives together. I've grown garlic with Michelle and I'm looking forward to expanding our business this year. I've hugged and kissed my beautiful kids and Mark a million times and I can't wait to love them all a whole lot more in 2010! It's going to be a great year, I can't wait!!

Thanks for coming along on the Dandelion float with me this year, what a lot of fun the BlogLand Parade is!I hope you have had some fun along the way too. It's been lovely getting to know you better through reading your blogs and comments.

This might be my last post for a little while as sadly my camera succumbed to the Being Left Out in Torrential Rain episode and quietly passed away during the parade. Happy New Year to you all, I hope it's a wonderful one for you, lots and lots of love xoxo

Happy day

...Yesterday was such a great day

... seeing a wonderful group of creative people coming together in the fabulous Daylesford Town Hall to put on what was definitely the best Daylesford Makers Market yet.

We welcomed new stall holders like the very lovely Rachel from Pictures Eat People, and clever Ziggy (who made these amazing peg dolls above) Kelly & Kate from Dear Prudence, the very talented Laura from pink snowflakes, Manda, Kootoyoo, Ceci Bean, Mim Whimsy from Castlemaine...it's hard to list everyone but I was so impressed with the quality of the stalls. All so individual and inspiring. I love these crowns by Amanda from Wildflower Soul.

The crew from Thaw were there and it was also great to see Geoffrey, George, Milla and their new baby Ella. And of course it was good to be with lovely Kate and Steph, two wonderful local women who I am so proud & lucky to have as friends. Steph, you did an amazing job setting up & organising the market, the feedback from stall holders and customers was fantastic.

So lovely too to meet some gorgeous crafters and bloggers including the very clever Jodie, thanks so much for my keyring (and puff) Jodie, I love it!! Your stall was so amazing, if any of your effalants need to be re housed for ANY REASON whatsoever, please call. And to all the bloggers out there who came along and said hi, thanks so much,, it was lovely to meet you all. Julie, the suffolk puff idea was a real winner!

Great to see Cam aka Curlypops and her sister, lovely chatting to you Cam! Hope we see you again up this way, soon ok??

Charlotte and I had alot of fun at the Dandelion stall, she was such a great help and the best company, thanks so much Char! Who else would run home and get my camera charger for me?

I was so happy too that my nearly all my bunnies (except one) went off to new, loving homes. It is so satisfying when people enjoy what I make, and I loved meeting all the children who popped by too. I got to meet dear little Alice who is the daughter of Sarah, a new friend from my course, thanks for coming along, Sarah. And a special hello to Celeste who has four beautiful sweeties and a lovely blog which I have just discovered.

Talking of sweeties Annissa from Lillypilly was there and it's always lovely to catch up with this beautiful local. Her stall looked gorgeous too and we always have a good old chat and laugh. Hope that glass of wine went down well tonight Annissa, mine sure did!

There were many highlights yesterday, one of which was seeing my dear nieces, Zoe (above) & Gemma (below right). I don't get to see them as much as I would like so it was very special to me that they came along. Boy am I going to miss them when they move to Tassie.

So you can see from all my photo's what a happy day it was. It just goes to show what can happen when people come together, bringing their creativity, sense of fun, colour, some laughs, love and the sense of community that comes from living in this wonderful part of the world. Thanks so much everyone for making it such a great day xo